Uplift capacity of horizontal strip plate anchors adjacent to slopes considering seismic loadings

Abstract

For computing the uplift capacity of strip anchors buried adjacent to sloping ground surface in the presence of pseudo-static earthquake body forces, theoretical solutions have been developed by using the upper bound theorem of limit analysis based on a simple rigid wedge collapse mechanism. The influence of the ratio of anchor edge-distance from the crest of slope to the width of anchor (ε) and earthquake acceleration coefficients (kh, kv) on the dimensionless seismic uplift factor (fγ) due to soil unit weight have been examined for different combinations of the internal friction angle of soil (ϕ), slope angle (β), and the embedment ratio (λ) of anchors. The magnitude of fγ was found to decrease continuously with increases in the slope angle and earthquake acceleration coefficients; whereas, as expected, fγ increases with increases in the soil friction angle, edge-distance ratio (ε) and the embedment ratio of anchors. Under the static condition, the angle of slope has no influence on the magnitude of uplift resistance when ε≥λtanϕ. The present solutions are in good agreement with the results reported in the literature.