Effect of fins on the pull-out response of model torpedo anchor embedded in soft clay
Effect of fins on the pull-out response of model torpedo anchor embedded in soft clay
Abstract: Torpédo anchors are long, heavy pipes filled with concrete or metal scrap and they can be dropped from a ship in order to sink deep into the seabed. In this study, the influence of fin configuration on the pull-out response of torpedo anchor embedded in soft clay bed is investigated. A laboratory test tank of 1.0 m diameter and 1.0 m deep was used to test the small-scale model torpedo anchor. The tank was filled with marine clay of soft consistency and model anchor embedded in it was pulled with pull-out angles 90o, 75o, 45o and 30o with horizontal. The fins of 2, 3 and 4 were attached to the model to study the effect of fin configuration on the pull-out response. Results revealed that the fin configured torpedo anchor had enhanced the performance in terms of load carrying capacity due to mobilized shear resistance of surrounded soft clay soil. At 90o and 75o pull-out angles, the finless torpedo showed more holding capacity by confining the displacement, whereas with the increase of fins, the pull-out capacity is decreased but the displacement is increased. The increased number of fins to torpedo anchor resulted in decrease of holding capacity and displacement, when pulled at an angles of 45o and 30o.
Keywords: Torpedo anchors, soft clay, fin configuration, pull-out angle and pull-out load.
Ahmad M. M. Sabbah; Nandyala D. Kumar
International Conference on Advances and Innovations in Soft Soil Engineering (ICAISSE2026)
Infrastructure Performance and Monitoring
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICAISSE2026-223