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Anchor Pile

An anchor pile is used to provide maximum stabilization for floating offshore structures in specific locations. Below is a 1321 mm. pile that is driven to 31100 mm. below the mudline.

Force

The forces acting on the anchor pile due to the anchor line pulling on the padeye are:

• F_h = horizontal force
  
  
• F_v = vertical force
  
  
• M = bending moment (M = F_vx d)
  

Soil Data

Below are the P-Y and T-Z curves for the soil used in the analysis. The P-Y curves are the lateral load deflection curves based on a specific pile diameter. The T-Z curves are the axial load deflection curves.

Lateral P-Y Data Plot (click image to enlarge)

Axial T-Z Data Plot (click image to enlarge)

Methods for Analyzing and Designing Anchor Piles

There are two methods to analyze and anchor pile:

• The older StruCAD program
  
• SACS single pile finite element program

StruCAD

• To convert a StruCad file into a SACS file: TZ and PY data must be reordered and all T, Z, and Y factors, plus all loads, must be reviewed due to multitude of unit options in StruCAD.
• Below is a sample file and representation of an anchor pile analyzed with StruCad
  • StruCAD data

SACS

• SACS is a product of Engineering Dynamics, Inc. It is the most comprehensive design and analysis software package for offshore structures.
• Advantages of SACS
  • finite element
  • descritized pile segments (i.e. equal length increments within pile segments)
  • bearing area must be entered for bearing data to be used
• Below is a sample file and representation of an anchor pile analyzed with SACS
  • SACS data

Comparison of SACS and StruCAD results

• Deflection

• Bending Moment

• Axial Force