Uplift resistance of horizontal strip anchors in sand: a cavity expansion approach

Abstract

This paper presents an analytical cavity expansion theory-based method for predicting peak uplift resistance of shallow horizontal strip anchors buried in sand. On the basis of an analytical two-dimensional stress solution for loading analysis around a cylindrical cavity, the method was developed by assuming that the peak anchor uplift resistance can be approximated by the cavity breakout pressure. In the new cavity expansion model, the ultimate failure is reached once the plastic zone develops to the ground surface, and the biaxial state of in situ ground stresses is taken into account. A database consisting of 75 model tests on shallow strip anchors in sands was compiled to validate the new method. The predicted results and measured data are in reasonable agreement, with a mean over-prediction of the peak uplift resistance by 1·6%. The reliability of the new solution was also checked by comparing with other commonly used analytical solutions. It is shown that the current solution can provide a simple analytical tool for predictions of the peak uplift resistance of strip anchors in sand while a sliding-block failure mechanism dominates.