EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS ON UPLIFT BEHAVIOUR OF PLATE ANCHORS IN COHESIONLESS SOIL

Abstract

In this study, uplift capacity of anchor plates embedded in sand was investigated by conducting model tests. Plate anchors with 6 different sizes and geometries were used in the tests. The parameters investigated for the uplift capacity of anchor plates were size, geometry and embedment ratio of the plates and density of sand. From the experiments it is observed that uplift capacity is effected substantially from anchor embedment ratio and density of sand. As the breakout factor is considered, in all experimental results, size factor did not have considerable effect on uplift capacity of square and circular anchor plates. In the case of same soil condition, although the same results were obtained for breakout factors of square and circular anchor plates, it is observed that the breakout factor is increased when the aspect ratio (L/B) is increased. On the other hand, uplift capacity of anchors obtained from the experiments and theoretical studies in the case of dense sand conditions is in good agreement. But, experimental results obtained for loose sand condition show lower values than those obtained from some of the theoretical studies.