Numerical Simulation on Suction Anchor Installation based on a Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian Finite Element Method

摘要

Details of a three-dimensional finite element modeling on the basis ofthe Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian method for simulation on installationof suction anchors are presented in this paper. Generally in a process ofthe design practice of suction anchors, a classical finite element methodhas been widely used to predict a stress-strain behavior of the soils bothinside and outside the suction anchors. But the classical finite elementmethod often leads to contact boundary problems on between the soilsand the suction anchors, in particular, when simulating on installationof the suction anchors penetrated into the clay which large deformationoccurs. Whereas a finite element analysis based on the CEL method iswell suitable of solving geotechnical contact problems including largedeformation of the interface between the clay and the suction anchors.A series of three dimensional finite element analyses based on the CELon suction anchors with ratios of 1:1 to 1:6 (diameter versus penetrationdepth) were performed and simulated on installation of the suctionanchors into the clay. A stress-strain behavior of the clay both insideand outside the suction anchors under installation was investigated. TheCEL predictions were compared with the design predictions on skirtpenetration resistance load by DNV (2005). The CEL predictions gavea correlation with the design predictions within 20% errors. The resultsindicated that the CEL simulation on installation of suction anchors canreasonably provide good predictions.