Scale Effect in Anchor Pullout Test by Centrifugal Technique

Abstract

Centrifugal technique can be applied to the model tests of bearing capacity, earth pressure, anchor pullout, etc. in sand. In this method, the soil mechanics law of similarity is satisfied by performing the model tests in the centrifugal field. However, the problems on the grain size of soil and the magnitude of acceleration of the test field have not been clarified. In this paper, the scale effect will be discussed based on the model tests of the anchor pullout resistance in dry sand by the centrifugal technique and the conventional model test in 1 g field. Important findings are: (1) no scale effect can be observed in the centrifugal model test for the 0.1 ~ 1. 0 mm grain size of sand and for the approximately 10 mm width or diameter of model anchor, and (2) since the scale effect is observed even by the centrifugal technique, the acceleration level must be set considering the scale effect.