Soil flow mechanism around deeply embedded plate anchors during monotonic and sustained uplifts

© 2015 Taylor & Francis Group, London. The deployment of Suction Embedded Plate Anchors in deep and ultra-deep waters to moor permanent floating offshore facilities raises issues related to their performance against sustained loading, generated by tides and currents. This paper reports centrifuge model tests of horizontally embedded plate anchors in normally consolidated kaolin clay, subjected to monotonic sustained vertical loading. Using the Particle Image Velocimetry technique, the soil flow mechanism around the plate is identified. The effects of the level of sustained loading and degree of consolidation achieved are discussed. For high levels of sustained load, a gap developed at the base of the anchor that modified the soil flow. Results demonstrate that sustained loading can be maintained indefinitely if the displacement at application of the sustained loading remains at 39% or lower of the displacement reached at failure. The evolution of the soil flow mechanism during the consolidation stage is also discussed.