The penetration resistance of the elliptical tip of torpedo anchors in cohesive soil

Abstract

Torpedo anchors are a new type of deep ocean anchor with a commonly elliptical anchor tip. However, little attention has been paid to theoretical research on the collapse load of the elliptical tip of the torpedo anchor. The lower and upper bound theorems are used to evaluate the penetration resistance of the anchor tip. A comparative analysis of the bearing capacity factor between the plastic limit solutions and the results presented in previous references is performed, and the feasibility of the lower and upper bound models is verified. As the aspect ratio of the anchor tip increases, the friction factor significantly affects the bearing capacity factor: the bearing capacity factor decreases with increasing the aspect ratio for smooth interface but increases with increasing the aspect ratio for the rough interface. Extended shape correction factors are obtained from the plane strain and axial symmetry results of the finite element method: 1.61 for a smooth interface, and 1.64 for a rough interface.