Centrifuge model test on the bearing capacity of suction anchors subjected to monotonic and cyclic inclined pullout loads in clay
Min Jy Lee, Angelica Gilo, Seong Jin Park, Yun Wook Choo
Abstract
To ensure stable mooring of floating structures, it is necessary to understand the performance of the suction anchor subjected to monotonic and cyclic loadings. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the bearing capacity of the suction anchor under monotonic and cyclic loading through centrifuge tests. The model tests were subjected to a load inclination of 40° Two cyclic loading tests were performed with 50 and 100 % of the target capacity applied to the suction model while the number of cycles was kept at 50 and 10, respectively. The suction anchor was subjected to a post-cyclic pullout (monotonic) after the two cyclic tests. Based on the results, the monotonic test result from the centrifuge test agrees well with the failure envelope developed through analytical solution and numerical analysis. The monotonic pullout ultimate capacity after series of cyclic loadings becomes higher capacity than the monotonic loading without experiencing cyclic loading due to less pore excess water pressure development with the low cyclic mean load and amplitude.