Interaction Effect of Group of Helical Anchors in Cohesive Soil Using Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

In this paper, the interaction effect of a group of two and four symmetrical as well as asymmetrical helical anchors resting in homogeneous cohesive soil deposit with different helix configurations is determined using finite element analysis. The anchors were pulled to its ultimate failure controlling the displacement. Eight different types of anchor configuration were considered in the analysis, where mainly the number of helical plates, the depth of upper- and lower-most helical plates and the ratio of spacing between the helical plates to the diameter of the plate were varied. The variation of load–displacement curve for each anchor in the group was obtained and subsequently, the ultimate uplift capacity of each anchor was determined. The soil was assumed to follow Mohr–Coulomb failure criteria. The present theoretical observations are generally found in good agreement with those theoretical and experimental results available in the literature for single isolated helical anchor.