Objective
To develop an anchoring system for tethers by means of grouted and drilled piles with a full-scale sea trial of the system.
The design, resulting from the study, considers a metallic base plate laid on the sea bed and anchored through a serie of metallic piles. The piles are set in a bore-hole, where they are later-on grouted. The two critical points, which should have been studied during the test are :
- the evolution of the soil characteristics around the pile with the vertical cyclic stresses,
- the formation of a free cone along the head of the pile with plastic deformation as an effect of alternated horizontal stresses.
The preliminary studies concerning the components permitted to design the metallic base plate, the retrievable connector for the cable fixation, the different parts of a pile (pipes, connectors for joining the different parts, special device to fit the head of the pile with the base plate) and the installation procedure for a drilling ship or a semi-submersible. Due to lack of support from industry and the uncertainty about anchoring type, which should have been selected for the Hutton T.L.P. the project has been stopped in 1980 and the tests have not been performed.
The system components of the anchoring system are the following :
- a base plate which insures the bracing of the piles and the transferring of the stresses from the cable connection point and the pile's head;
- the piles which are set by drilling and grouted;
- the cable(s) which are connected to the anchored structure.
The project is carried out with the following phases :
- design of the anchoring system and study of the installation procedures,
- survey of the site,
- installation of the anchoring system,
- test.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
2000 Antwerpen
Belgium