A series of centrifuge model tests on embedded suction anchors to determine the horizontal and inclined loading capacities have been conducted by Daewoo Institute of Construction Technology (DICT). The centrifuge model tests include as main variables the embedded depth, the direction of loading, and the loading point in sand and clay. The test results indicate that the loading capacity of the embedded suction anchor in both sand and clay increases at a given embedded depth as the point of load application moves downward.
The embedded suction anchor (ESA) is a type of permanent offshore foundation that is installed by a suction pile. The cross-sectional shape of the ESA is circular with its diameter being the same as that of the suction pile that is used to drive it into the seafloor. To increase the loading capacity against pullout, three wings (vertical flanges) are attached along the circumference at 120 degrees apart. During installation, the ESA is attached at the tip of the suction pile and then driven as a unit with the suction pile by the applied reduced pressure inside the suction pile. Once the ESA reaches the desired depth, the suction pile is retrieved by applying a positive pressure, leaving the ESA permanently in the seafloor soil. The mechanism of suction pile installation is well described in the references (Bang et al., 2000; Cho et al., 2002a, 2002b). A series of centrifuge model tests on the ESA to determine its horizontal and inclined loading capacities were conducted by the DICT during the summer of 2002. The tests were conducted as part of a study for the foundation design of a floating breakwater system. This floating breakwater system is an integral part of a harbor renovation project at the southern coast of Korea.
