Numerical Simulation Analysis of the Characteristics of Torpedo Anchor Penetration in Cohesive Soil

Abstract

Yue, L.; Wang, Q.; Wang, W.; Wang, Y., and Lv, J., 2020. Numerical simulation analysis of the characteristics of torpedo anchor penetration in cohesive soil. In: Wan, Z. (ed.), Coordinated Sustainable Development in Coastal Areas: Environment and Economy. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 109, pp. 139–144. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Invented by Petrobras in 1996, the torpedo anchor has been successfully applied in Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) in the Gulf of Mexico (Medeiros, 2002). With a torpedo-like hydrodynamic shape, the torpedo anchor obtains the kinetic energy required for penetration by free-falling through the water. It then uses that energy to penetrate into the seabed, thereby completing its installation. This paper discusses the large deformation finite element method and the CEL method, which are used to calculate the torpedo anchor penetration in a cohesive-soil seabed. The characteristics of the soil and the anchor at different moments during the torpedo anchor penetration are analyzed based on simulation results.