Combined 6-DoF motion tracking and photogrammetry to capture drag anchor installation behaviour in sand
Combined 6-DoF motion tracking and photogrammetry to capture drag anchor installation behaviour in sand
ABSTRACT: Accurate observations of drag embedment anchor installation remain challenging because anchor motion and soil deformation occur beneath the soil surface. This study presents a coupled measurement system that integrates six-degree-of-freedom (6-DoF) optical marker tracking with photogrammetric reconstruction of the sand surface, enabling quantitative assessment of anchor kinematics and soil response during installation. Preliminary 1g dry-sand tests using a 1:80-scale anchor model are reported in this paper to verify the system's reliability, with Ng tests planned for the near future. The 6-DoF system accurately resolved anchor position and orientation, while photogrammetry captured the progressive soil deformation during installation. The combined results reveal a clear correlation between the anchor position and the shape of the soil surface, demonstrating the method's ability to visualise and quantify anchor-soil interaction. This novel experimental set-up provides a practical tool for future centrifuge model tests and can be readily extended to other geotechnical tests such as piles, plate anchors, and pipelines.
Junhao Fan; Ben Ferrell; Conleth O'loughlin; M. Fraser Bransby; Phil Watson
11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG2026)
Session 1: New facilities, new equipment, and measuring techniques
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICPMG2026-380