Sand Deformation around an Uplift Plate Anchor

This paper presents an experimental investigation on soil deformation around uplift plate anchors in sand by using digital image correlation (DIC). The experimental setup consists of a camera, loading frame, plexiglass mold, and computer, which is developed to capture soil deformation during anchor uplifting. A series of model tests are performed to investigate the influence of particle size, soil density, and anchor embedment depth on soil deformation. A set of images captured during anchor uplifting are used to calculate soil displacement fields by DIC. The failure surface is studied by tracking the points with maximum shear strain values. On the basis of this study, it is found that soil deformation and the pullout resistance of plate anchors are substantially influenced by soil density and anchor embedment depth, whereas particle size within the studied range has limited influence. In dense sand, the shape of the failure surface changes from a truncated cone above a shallow anchor to a combined shape of a curved cone and a truncated cone for a deep anchor. In contrast, in loose sand a cone-shaped failure surface is formed within the soil mass above a shallow anchor; however, no failure surface is observed for a deep anchor, where the compressibility of soil is the dominating factor that influences the behavior of deep plate anchors in loose sand.