Bearing resistance property of diameter-expanded anchorage in sandy ground

Abstract

Based on a past centrifugal model test and complementary discrete element method (DEM) simulation, this paper provides insights into bearing resistance of diameter-expanded anchorage with its anchor body expanded. In the centrifugal model test, an anchor body model set at a depth of 100 mm and a diameter of 27 mm in sand was pulled horizontally in a centrifugal acceleration of 30 G. The behaviour of the model ground during pulling was portrayed through the DEM modelling. Spherical particle and non-spherical particle composed of two spherical particles connected rigidly were used as analogues of soil particles in the simulation. The simulation result of spherical particle with inter-particle friction coefficient of 0.5 was similar to the ground deformation and the pull-out resistance obtained from the experiment.