Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia

Title: DISPLACEMENT FIELD AROUND AN UPLIFTING INNOVATED PLATE ANCHOR
Authors: Sabermahani Mohsen and Nasirabadi Mehrzad Shojaee
DOI: 10.13168/AGG.2020.0009
Journal: Acta Geodynamica et Geomaterialia, Vol. 17, No. 1 (197), Prague 2020
Full Text: PDF file (3.3 MB)
Keywords: Anchor plate; pullout capacity; sand deformation zone; PIV; Opening anchor plate
Abstract: This paper introduces an innovated plate anchor, increasing its bearing section area during uplift. In this experimental study, the influences of embedment depth of plate anchor and soil surface condition (restricted or free) on sand deformation field during uplift test are investigated. In order to study the soil deformation around the anchor, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is used. The experimental setup consists of a camera, a new designed box, load cell, encoder and computer. During the uplift test on physical models, images are captured and used by PIV to depict the soil displacement field. Based on this study, it is found that pullout capacity and sand deformation zone are significantly influenced by anchor embedment depth. In shallow anchors, sand deformation zone lines are similar to a curve and cross the soil surface; however, in deep anchors, sand deformation zone is a bulb-shaped zone that extends from anchor to a distance of approximately two times its diameter above. Soil surface restriction increases anchor pullout capacity in shallow anchors up to 37 %, but in deep ones, there is no significant difference. Soil surface restriction changes shallow anchor behavior to deep anchors; however, it has no notable influence on deep anchors.