Technical Papers
Dec 15, 2017

Numerical Investigation of Diving Potential and Optimization of Offshore Anchors

Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 144, Issue 2

Abstract

This paper reports numerical modeling results investigating the diving potential and optimization of offshore anchors. A simplified two-dimensional plate anchor model and a complex three-dimensional anchor model were investigated in the finite element analyses. Good agreement with established analytical predictions provided validation of the numerical analysis. A major parameter influencing the dive potential for anchors was found to be the position of the padeye relative to the anchor rotation center. Beneficial padeye offset ranges that encourage diving and benefit ultimate holding capacity were identified for two different anchor geometries. These should facilitate optimization of future anchor designs in offshore engineering.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

Acknowledgments

This research was undertaken with support from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF), a U.K. registered charity and sole shareholder of Lloyd’s Register Group Ltd that invests in science, engineering, and technology for public benefit, worldwide. This study comprised part of the activities of the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems (COFS), currently supported as a node of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering (CE110001009), and through the Fugro Chair in Geotechnics. The first author also acknowledges the support of Open Fund from State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, and the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (Grant Number E2015208089).

References

Dassault Systèmes. (2011). Abaqus analysis user’s manual, SIMULIA, Providence, RI.
Dove, P., Treu, H., and Wilde, B. (1998). “Suction embedded plate anchor (SEPLA): A new anchoring solution for ultra-deepwater mooring.” Proc., Deep Offshore Technology Conf., Deep Offshore Technology, London.
Elkhatib, S. (2006). “The behaviour of drag-in plate anchors in soft cohesive soils.” Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
Elkhatib, S., and Randolph, M. F. (2005). “The effect of interface friction on the performance of drag-in plate anchors.” Proc., 1st Int. Symp. on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics, Taylor & Francis Group, London, 171–177.
Gaudin, C., O’Loughlin, C. D., Hossain, M. S., and Zimmerman, E. H. (2013). “The performance of dynamically embedded anchors in calcareous silt.” Proc., 32th Int. Conf. on Ocean, Offshore and Artic Engineering, Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering Division of ASME, New York.
Medeiros, C. J. (2001). “Torpedo anchor for deep water.” Proc., Deepwater Offshore Technology Conf., Deep Offshore Technology, London.
Medeiros, C. J. (2002). “Low cost anchor system for flexible risers in deep waters.” Proc., Offshore Technology Conf., Offshore Technology Conference, Houston.
Murff, J. D., et al. (2005). “Vertically loaded plate anchors for deepwater applications.” Proc., 1st Int. Symp. on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics, Taylor & Francis Group, London, 31–48.
Neubecker, S. R., and Randolph, M. F. (1995). “Profile and frictional capacity of embedded anchor chains.” J. Geotech. Eng., 797–803.
O’Loughlin, C. D., Blake, A., Richardson, M. D., Randolph, M. F., and Gaudin, C. (2014). “Installation and capacity of dynamically embedded plate anchors as assessed through centrifuge tests.” Ocean Eng., 88, 204–213.
O’Neill, M. P., Bransby, M. F., and Randolph, M. F. (2003). “Drag anchor fluke-soil interaction in clays.” Can. Geotech. J., 40(1), 78–94.
Shelton, J. T. (2007). “OMNI-Max anchor development and technology.” Proc., 2007 Oceans Conf., IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society, New York.
Song, Z., Hu, Y., O’Loughlin, C., and Randolph, M. F. (2009). “Loss in anchor embedment during plate anchor keying in clay.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 1475–1485.
Tian, Y., Cassidy, M. J., and Gaudin, C. (2014a). “The influence of padeye offset on plate anchor re-embedding behaviour.” Géotechnique Lett., 4(1), 39–44.
Tian, Y., Gaudin, C., and Cassidy, M. J. (2014b). “Improving plate anchor design with a keying flap.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 04014009.
Tian, Y., Gaudin, C., Randolph, M. F., and Cassidy, M. J. (2015a). “The influence of padeye offset on the bearing capacity of three dimensional plate anchors.” Can. Geotech. J., 52(6), 682–693.
Tian, Y., Randolph, M. F., and Cassidy, M. J. (2015b). “Analytical solution for ultimate embedment depth and potential holding capacity of plate anchors.” Geotechnique, 65(6), 517–530.
Tian, Y., Zheng, T., Zhou, T., and Cassidy, M. J. (2016). “A new method to investigate the failure envelopes of offshore foundations.” Proc., 35th Int. Conf. on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers, Mountain View, CA.
Vivatrat, V., Valent, P. J., and Ponterio, A. A. (1982). “The influence of chain friction on anchor pile design.” Proc., 14th Annual Offshore Technology Conf., Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 153–156.
Wei, Q., Tian, Y., Cassidy, M. J., Gaudin, C., and O’Loughlin, C. (2015). “Behaviour of OMNI-Max anchors under chain loading.” Proc., 3rd Int. Symp. on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics, CRC Press, London.
Zimmerman, E. H. (2010). “Proven high efficiency anchor for harsh cyclonic environment.” Proc., 2010 Oceans Conf., IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society, New York.
Zimmerman, E. H., Smith, M. W., and Shelton, J. T. (2009). “Efficient gravity installed anchor for deepwater mooring.” Proc., Offshore Technology Conf., Society of Petroleum Engineering, Houston.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 144Issue 2February 2018

History

Received: Dec 23, 2016
Accepted: Aug 7, 2017
Published online: Dec 15, 2017
Published in print: Feb 1, 2018
Discussion open until: May 15, 2018

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Yinghui Tian [email protected]
State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, Tianjin Univ., 92 Weijin Rd., Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China; Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, Univ. of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy., Crawley, WA 6009, Australia (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]
Christophe Gaudin [email protected]
Professor, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, Univ. of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy., Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Mark F. Randolph [email protected]
Professor, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, Univ. of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy., Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Mark J. Cassidy [email protected]
Professor, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, Univ. of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy., Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Formerly, Undergraduate Student, Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, Univ. of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy., Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share