Evaluation of Anchoring Capacity of Suction Anchors With Fins in Silt

Abstract Suction anchors are favored for their numerous advantages, such as the excellent vertical load-bearing capacity (in contrast with drag anchors), low-noise installation (in contrast with driven piles during hammering), and highly precise installation positioning (in contrast with torpedo anchors). Conventional suction anchors’ structural stability and lateral bearing capacity can be enhanced by adding fins. Fins are simple plate-like structures attached to the outer surface of the anchor to enhance its performance. Fins in suction anchors lead to improved lateral bearing capacity and anti-rotation performance specifically. In this study, the model of suction anchor is built by using the finite element technique with the commercial software PLAXIS 3D. The suction anchor model is first validated with the centrifuge test data from the literature, demonstrating good agreement between the experimental data and the numerical results. Next, this study evaluates the effects of fin direction on bearing capacity Moreover, we evaluate the effects of fin direction on lateral bearing capacity. It was found that the maximum lateral bearing capacity occurs when the fins are oriented orthogonally to the direction of the applied load. The lateral bearing capacity of suction anchors with fins is also assessed under different padeye force angles. Furthermore, this study identifies the optimal fin dimension, both width and length. This factor is crucial in optimizing the cost regarding the material usage. This study offers researchers and industry professionals a reference for making informed decisions on the adoption of fin designs.