Analysis of Dynamically Penetrating Anchor based on Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) Method

A fundamental study of the dynamically penetrating anchor (DPA – colloquially known as torpedo anchor) embedded into deep seabed was conducted using measurement data and numerical approaches. Numerical simulation of such a structure penetration was often suffered by severe mesh distortion arising from very large soil deformation, complex contact condition and nonlinear soil behavior. In recent years, a Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian method (CEL) has been used to solve geomechanical boundary value problems involving large deformations. In this study, 3D finite element analyses using the CEL formulation are carried out to simulate the construction process of dynamic anchors. Through comparisons with results of field measurements, the CEL method in the present study is in good agreement with the general trend observed by in-situ measurements and thus, predicts a realistic large deformation movement for the dynamic anchors by free-fall dropping, which the conventional FE method cannot. Additionally, the appropriate parametric studies needed for verifying the characteristic of dynamic anchor are also discussed.