An anchoring system for supporting platforms for wind energy devices

This paper presents data from an initial development stage of an 'umbrella anchor' concept. The anchor can be pushed into sand deposit in a folded arrangement to reduce installation loads. When a pull-out load is applied to the mooring line, the anchor deploys to create a large embedded plate anchor. Physical modelling was carried out in...

New insights into the failure mechanisms of horizontal plate anchors in clay during pull-out

Offshore wind developments are moving towards deep-water regions where energy is abundant, visual impact is minimised and the larger turbine sizes can make the energy production more cost-effective. One of the key challenges facing the industry is the development of reliable substructures. While fixed foundation systems are widely used for...

The Effect of Shape on the Pull-out Capacity of Shallow Plate Anchors in Sand

This paper presents an experimental and analytical study to investigate the effect of shape on the pull-out capacity of shallow horizontal plate anchors in sand under drained loading conditions. Novel dynamically penetrating plate anchor concepts have been proposed for use in the offshore energy sector. These anchor concepts may have shapes that...

The behaviour of a novel dynamically installed anchor during deployment – insights from field tests

Offshore wind developments are moving towards deep water where the energy is abundant and visual and sound interference is minimised. However, construction in deep water poses several challenges to developers, among which are the high cost of operation and material transport. The current study addresses the behaviour of a novel foundation system...