Flexible Foundation and Anchorage Systems Optimized for Vertical Pullout Capacity Using an Optimal Control Technique

Foundation and anchorage systems must achieve their performance requirements under a wide variety of loading conditions while also minimizing material use (i.e., steel and concrete) to improve the sustainability of civil infrastructure. A bioinspired design approach has been adopted to investigate potential solutions to these geotechnical design challenges. Drawing inspiration from the nonlinear, flexible structures of tree root systems, this study advances the potential to optimize the vertical pullout capacity of flexible embedded structures of arbitrary shape. Using a soil springs model to capture the structure deformation and compatibility, combined with an optimal control technique, nonlinear structure shapes are identified for a broad range of inputs including varied displacement, axial and transverse spring soil resistances and mobilization distances, and structure Young’s modulus and diameter. This analysis reveals how the nonlinear shapes of flexible embedded structures (such as roots, anchors, or piles) can be tailored to manipulate the pattern of mobilization of mechanical resistance and optimized with respect to the environment and loading conditions.