Torpedo anchors are a viable approach for mooring marine hydrokinetic (MHK) energy devices to the seafloor. These anchors will serve to maintain station and to provide the reaction force for the MHK device. The ability of the anchor to perform these duties is a strong function of its penetration depth during installation. This is a large-strain problem not amenable to typical continuum numerical approaches. In the current work, we propose that the discrete element method (DEM) is a more appropriate tool to investigate the shallow penetration of torpedo anchors in sands. The effects of anchor mass, impact velocity, and anchor geometry are considered in the DEM simulations. The relative maximum penetration depths under these factors are quantified and presented in the paper. Comparisons are also made between DEM simulations and the empirical equation developed by Young (1967). Granular material response at the microscale during penetration are used to provide insight into system response.
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