A variable cross-section assembled suction anchor

Abstract

This utility model discloses a variable cross-section prefabricated suction anchor, comprising an anchor top, an upper anchor barrel, and a lower anchor barrel. The anchor top is sealed and fixed to the top of the upper anchor barrel. An upper flange is fixed to the bottom of the upper anchor barrel, and a lower flange is fixed to the top of the lower anchor barrel. The upper and lower anchor barrels are detachably connected via the upper and lower flanges. The cross-section of the upper anchor barrel is a gradually decreasing variable cross-section, gradually increasing from top to bottom, and the cross-section of the lower anchor barrel is also a gradually decreasing variable cross-section, gradually decreasing from top to bottom. This variable cross-section prefabricated suction anchor is not only easy to manufacture, transport, and install, but also significantly improves its diagonal pull-out resistance, torsional bearing capacity, and erosion resistance in service.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of basic technology of submarine engineering, and in particular relates to a suction anchor. Background Technology

[0002] Suction anchors, as a highly efficient, economical, and recyclable form of deep-sea foundation, primarily rely on their own weight for initial penetration. Subsequently, by pumping water out of the anchor chamber to create negative pressure, they overcome soil resistance and drive the anchor to its designed depth. This technology, with its significant advantages such as convenient installation, precise positioning, and controllable costs, has been widely applied in floating wind power, offshore oil and gas platforms, and various mooring systems, becoming one of the key technologies supporting the development of deep-sea resources.

[0003] However, as marine engineering structures develop towards larger scale and ultra-deep-sea applications, the load-bearing capacity requirements for their foundation anchoring systems are increasing, directly leading to a continuous increase in the size and scale of suction anchors. Under this trend, the design of traditional integral, uniform-section suction anchors faces a series of severe challenges:

[0004] First, in the transportation and installation phase, the large suction anchors manufactured as a whole increase dramatically in size and weight, often exceeding the working limits of conventional maritime and offshore lifting equipment. This not only significantly increases construction costs and risks, but in some cases, logistical constraints can even restrict the feasibility of the project.

[0005] Secondly, in terms of structure and performance, traditional cylindrical structures with uniform cross-sections have inherent design contradictions. To meet higher pull-out bearing capacity requirements, the design typically requires increasing the embedment depth or diameter of the anchor cylinder. However, this simultaneously increases the sidewall friction and end resistance during the sinking and penetration process. This contradiction is particularly prominent under complex seabed geological conditions, and installation failure is easily caused by significant "soil plugging effect" or excessive penetration resistance, preventing the achievement of the predetermined design depth and thus affecting the final anchoring performance. Utility Model Content

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the deficiencies and defects mentioned in the background art above, and to provide a variable cross-section assembled suction anchor that is not only easy to manufacture, transport and install, but also significantly improves its oblique pull-out resistance, torsional bearing capacity and scour resistance in service.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution proposed by this utility model is as follows:

[0008] A variable cross-section assembled suction anchor includes an anchor top, an upper anchor barrel, and a lower anchor barrel. The anchor top is sealed and fixed to the top of the upper anchor barrel. An upper flange is fixed to the bottom of the upper anchor barrel, and a lower flange is fixed to the top of the lower anchor barrel. The upper and lower anchor barrels are detachably connected via the upper and lower flanges. The cross-section of the upper anchor barrel is a gradually decreasing variable cross-section, gradually increasing from top to bottom, and the cross-section of the lower anchor barrel is a gradually decreasing variable cross-section, gradually decreasing from top to bottom.

[0009] In the above-mentioned variable cross-section assembled suction anchor, preferably, the thickness of the anchor top plate is greater than the thickness of the upper anchor barrel plate, and the anchor top is provided with a water pumping hole and a negative pressure detection hole.

[0010] In the above-mentioned variable cross-section assembled suction anchor, preferably, the upper anchor barrel and the lower anchor barrel have the same structure.

[0011] In the aforementioned variable cross-section assembled suction anchor, preferably, the bottom edge of the lower anchor barrel is provided with a wedge-shaped cutting edge. The bottom wedge-shaped cutting edge further reduces the initial penetration resistance.

[0012] In the above-mentioned variable cross-section assembled suction anchor, preferably, a sealing ring is provided between the upper flange and the lower flange, and the upper flange and the lower flange are fixed together by bolts.

[0013] In the aforementioned variable cross-section assembled suction anchor, preferably, multiple upper wing plates are symmetrically arranged on the outer side wall of the upper anchor barrel, the upper wing plates are vertically arranged, and the upper wing plates and the upper anchor barrel are of equal length; multiple lower wing plates are symmetrically arranged on the outer side wall of the lower anchor barrel, the lower wing plates are vertically arranged, and the lower wing plates and the lower anchor barrel are of equal length; the multiple upper wing plates and the multiple lower wing plates are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence, and their positions are kept on the same straight line.

[0014] In the above-mentioned variable cross-section assembled suction anchor, preferably, an ear plate is provided at the middle position of the outer side wall of the lower anchor barrel.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are:

[0016] 1. The variable cross-section prefabricated suction anchor of this utility model greatly reduces the difficulty of manufacturing, transporting and hoisting ultra-large suction anchors by designing the traditional integral anchor barrel into two identical prefabricated modules, thereby improving the adaptability of engineering projects.

[0017] 2. The variable cross-section assembled suction anchor of this utility model has a unique variable cross-section structure of "small at both ends and large in the middle" during the installation of the anchor body. During the penetration process, it can effectively disturb the soil, alleviate the internal "soil plugging effect", reduce the side wall friction resistance, and thus make it easier to sink to the design depth.

[0018] 3. The variable cross-section assembled suction anchor of this utility model provides a larger effective bearing area and soil constraint in the middle large diameter section during service, which significantly improves the vertical and oblique pull-out bearing capacity of the anchor body; the variable cross-section structure can also improve its torsional performance and reduce the scouring of the base by optimizing the water flow path, thereby improving long-term stability.

[0019] 4. The variable cross-section assembled suction anchor of this utility model has almost identical upper and lower barrel structures, which greatly simplifies mold manufacturing and production processes, and reduces manufacturing costs. The two are connected by flanges, which ensures reliable connection and good sealing, thus ensuring the integrity of the structure. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the variable cross-section assembled suction anchor of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a top view of the variable cross-section assembled suction anchor of this utility model.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the variable cross-section assembled suction anchor of this utility model at the lower flange.

[0024] Legend

[0025] 1. Anchor top; 2. Upper anchor barrel; 31. Upper flange; 32. Lower flange; 4. Lower anchor barrel; 41. Wedge-shaped cutting edge; 5. Ear plate; 61. Upper flange; 62. Lower flange; 7. Pump hole; 8. Bolt; 9. Sealing ring. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, it will be described more comprehensively and in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. However, the scope of protection of this utility model is not limited to the following specific embodiments.

[0027] It should be noted that when a component is described as being "fixed to, attached to, connected to or connected to" another component, it can be directly fixed to, attached to, connected to or connected to the other component, or it can be indirectly fixed to, attached to, connected to or connected to the other component through other intermediate connectors.

[0028] Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. The technical terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention.

[0029] Unless otherwise specified, all raw materials, reagents, instruments and equipment used in this invention can be purchased from the market or prepared by existing methods.

[0030] Example:

[0031] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the variable cross-section assembled suction anchor of this embodiment includes an anchor top 1, an upper anchor barrel 2, and a lower anchor barrel 4. The anchor top 1 is sealed and fixed to the top of the upper anchor barrel 2. An upper flange 31 is fixed to the bottom of the upper anchor barrel 2, and a lower flange 32 is fixed to the top of the lower anchor barrel 4. The upper anchor barrel 2 and the lower anchor barrel 4 are detachably connected by the upper flange 31 and the lower flange 32. The cross-section of the upper anchor barrel 2 is a gradually decreasing variable cross-section, which gradually increases from top to bottom, and the cross-section of the lower anchor barrel 4 is a gradually decreasing variable cross-section, which gradually decreases from top to bottom.

[0032] In this embodiment, the sidewalls of both the upper anchor barrel 2 and the lower anchor barrel 4 are straight, and the angle between the sidewall and the axis of the barrel body is less than 15°, thus forming a gently sloping conical surface. The longitudinal sections of both the upper anchor barrel 2 and the lower anchor barrel 4 are isosceles trapezoids. The trapezoidal angles at the top and bottom of the suction anchor can be 100°, while the trapezoidal angle at the intermediate connection point can be 80°.

[0033] In this embodiment, the barrel of the variable cross-section assembled suction anchor is formed by the detachable connection of the upper anchor barrel 2 and the lower anchor barrel 4 via the upper flange 31 and the lower flange 32. After the connection, the entire barrel presents a spindle-shaped variable cross-section structure with "small diameter at both ends and large diameter in the middle". The outer contour of the variable cross-section barrel is smooth and continuous, and its cross-section at any height is perpendicular to the barrel axis. The diameter of the barrel cross-section gradually increases along the depth direction, reaching its maximum value at the middle position between the upper flange 31 and the lower flange 32, and then gradually decreases, with the diameter of the top and bottom ends of the barrel being equal.

[0034] In this embodiment, the lower anchor barrel 4 adopts a tapered variable cross-section structure, which allows it to more effectively compress the surrounding soil during penetration, thereby significantly reducing sidewall friction and optimizing penetration performance. It also accommodates the soil plugging effect generated during penetration. During service, this structure can mobilize a larger area of ​​soil to participate in stress, forming a denser earth pressure arch, thus fully utilizing and bearing greater passive earth pressure and improving the anchor's diagonal pull-out bearing capacity. The upper anchor barrel 2 also adopts a tapered variable cross-section structure. During service, when the anchor is subjected to pull-out loads, this structure guides the soil to form a better failure surface, thereby mobilizing a larger volume and weight of soil to participate in pull-out resistance, significantly enhancing the pull-out bearing capacity of the anchoring system. Furthermore, its streamlined profile effectively guides water flow smoothly, significantly reducing the generation of eddies and thus reducing the scouring effect on the surrounding foundation soil.

[0035] In this embodiment, the thickness of the anchor top 1 is greater than the thickness of the upper anchor barrel 2. The anchor top 1 is provided with a water extraction hole 7 and a negative pressure detection hole. The anchor top 1 is fixedly installed at the top of the upper anchor barrel 2 to seal the barrel. The thickness of the anchor top 1 is designed to be greater than the wall thickness of the upper anchor barrel 2 to provide sufficient structural rigidity and sealing. The anchor top 1 is provided with a water extraction hole 7 and a negative pressure detection hole (…). Figure 1 (Not shown in the diagram). The water extraction hole 7 is used to connect an external water pump to create negative pressure by pumping water out of the tank or to inject water to relieve negative pressure; the negative pressure detection hole is used to install a pressure sensor to monitor the pressure changes inside the tank in real time during penetration, providing data support for construction control.

[0036] In this embodiment, the upper anchor barrel 2 and the lower anchor barrel 4 are symmetrical components with basically the same structural dimensions. Their two ends have equal diameters, while the diameter of the interface at the connection point is larger than the diameters at both ends. The upper anchor barrel 2 and the lower anchor barrel 4 are designed as almost identical symmetrical modules (except for the wedge-shaped cutting edge 41 of the lower anchor barrel 4, everything else can be completely identical). This standardized modular design greatly facilitates mass production in the factory, while its compact unit form significantly reduces the difficulty and cost of transportation and warehousing, and supports rapid on-site assembly.

[0037] In this embodiment, the bottom edge of the lower anchor barrel 4 is provided with a wedge-shaped cutting edge 41, the inclination angle of which ranges from 15° to 45°. The bottom edge of the lower anchor barrel 4 is machined into an inwardly converging wedge-shaped cutting edge 41, which further optimizes penetration performance. This wedge-shaped section is designed with a large-angle inclination. Furthermore, the surface profile of this wedge-shaped section can be optimized to conform to the brachistochrone line. This unique curved cutting edge can guide soil particles to move more smoothly towards the center of the barrel and be discharged upwards during penetration, thereby significantly reducing end resistance and accelerating the penetration speed in sandy or dense soil layers.

[0038] like Figure 3As shown, in this embodiment, a sealing ring 9 is provided between the upper flange 31 and the lower flange 32, and the upper flange 31 and the lower flange 32 are fixed together by bolts 8. The above connection structure is reliable and has good sealing performance, ensuring the overall structural integrity.

[0039] In this embodiment, multiple upper wing plates 61 are symmetrically arranged on the outer wall of the upper anchor barrel 2. The upper wing plates 61 are vertically arranged and are of the same length as the upper anchor barrel 2. Multiple lower wing plates 62 are symmetrically arranged on the outer wall of the lower anchor barrel 4. The lower wing plates 62 are vertically arranged and are of the same length as the lower anchor barrel 4. The multiple upper wing plates 61 and multiple lower wing plates 62 are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence and their positions are kept on the same straight line. On the outer walls of both the upper anchor barrel 2 and the lower anchor barrel 4, upper wing plates 61 and lower wing plates 62 are symmetrically arranged respectively. The upper wing plates 61 and lower wing plates 62 extend along the generatrix of the barrel body, that is, they are vertically arranged, and their longitudinal length can be equal to the length of the upper anchor barrel 2 and the lower anchor barrel 4. The shape of the upper wing plates 61 and lower wing plates 62 is not limited, for example, they can be isosceles triangles, with the base of the isosceles triangle attached to the surface of the barrel body. The upper flange 61 and the lower flange 62 can significantly increase the contact area between the anchor body and the surrounding soil, thereby effectively improving the overall pull-out bearing capacity of the suction anchor. At the same time, they act as strong stiffening ribs for the barrel body itself, which can restrain the deformation of the barrel body. Especially when subjected to complex cyclic loads, they can effectively suppress the rotation or displacement that may occur at the connection of the ear plate 5, and improve the long-term service stability of the anchor body.

[0040] In this embodiment, a lug plate 5 is provided at the middle position of the outer wall of the lower anchor barrel 4. The lug plate 5 is welded to the longitudinal middle position (approximately 1 / 2 height) of the outer wall of the lower anchor barrel 4 and is used to connect the anchor chain or other mooring components. The number of lug plates 5, their specific structural form, the spacing angle between adjacent lug plates 5, and their installation height on the outer wall of the barrel can all be flexibly adjusted according to the design requirements of the actual project.

[0041] The installation process for the variable cross-section prefabricated suction anchor in this embodiment is as follows:

[0042] The upper anchor barrel 2 and the lower anchor barrel 4 are transported from the shore to the target sea area;

[0043] Before construction, the upper anchor barrel 2 and the lower anchor barrel 4 are assembled through the upper flange 31 and the lower flange 32 to form a complete variable cross-section suction anchor, and then hoisted to the seabed surface.

[0044] A suction device is connected to the pumping hole 7 on the top of the anchor to extract part of the water in the anchor body, and the negative pressure generated is used to make the suction anchor penetrate into the seabed.

[0045] The internal pressure of the anchor body is monitored through the negative pressure detection hole during the penetration process. When the designed penetration depth is reached, the valves on the pumping hole 7 and the negative pressure detection hole are closed.

[0046] Connect the mooring components to ear plate 5 to complete the installation.

[0047] This embodiment of the variable cross-section prefabricated suction anchor features a hollow barrel with a sealed top cover (anchor top 1) and an open bottom. The variable cross-section design, with an open bottom for easy initial insertion, and a barrel cross-section that gradually changes in height, accommodates the soil plugging effect during installation, promoting negative pressure formation, and effectively reduces wave load scouring during service through the upper tapering structure. The upper flange 61 and lower flange 62 on the outside of the barrel significantly increase the contact area between the anchor and the surrounding soil, thereby effectively improving the overall pull-out bearing capacity of the suction anchor. This structure significantly improves the stress performance of the suction anchor, enhancing its vertical and lateral bearing capacity as well as its torsional resistance. Furthermore, the prefabricated design facilitates transportation and on-site installation.

[0048] The structure of the variable cross-section assembled suction anchor in this embodiment is suitable for suction anchors of various sizes, especially for large suction anchors, such as those with a diameter exceeding 10m.

[0049] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model and is not intended to limit the utility model. Various modifications and variations can be made to this utility model by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A variable cross-section assembled suction anchor, characterized in that, It includes an anchor top (1), an upper anchor barrel (2) and a lower anchor barrel (4). The anchor top (1) is sealed and fixed to the top of the upper anchor barrel (2). An upper flange (31) is fixed to the bottom of the upper anchor barrel (2). A lower flange (32) is fixed to the top of the lower anchor barrel (4). The upper anchor barrel (2) and the lower anchor barrel (4) are detachably connected by the upper flange (31) and the lower flange (32). The cross-section of the upper anchor barrel (2) is a gradually decreasing cross-section, which gradually increases from top to bottom. The cross-section of the lower anchor barrel (4) is a gradually decreasing cross-section, which gradually decreases from top to bottom.

2. The variable cross-section assembled suction anchor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the anchor top (1) is greater than the thickness of the upper anchor barrel (2), and the anchor top (1) is provided with a water pumping hole (7) and a negative pressure detection hole.

3. The variable cross-section fabricated suction anchor of claim 1, wherein, The upper anchor barrel (2) and the lower anchor barrel (4) have the same structure.

4. The variable cross-section fabricated suction anchor of claim 1, wherein, The bottom edge of the lower anchor barrel (4) is provided with a wedge-shaped cutting edge (41).

5. The variable cross-section assembled suction anchor according to claim 1, characterized in that, A sealing ring (9) is provided between the upper flange (31) and the lower flange (32), and the upper flange (31) and the lower flange (32) are fixed together by bolts (8).

6. The variable cross-section fabricated suction anchor of claim 1, wherein, Multiple upper wing plates (61) are symmetrically arranged on the outer side wall of the upper anchor barrel (2). The upper wing plates (61) are vertically arranged and are of equal length to the upper anchor barrel (2). Multiple lower wing plates (62) are symmetrically arranged on the outer side wall of the lower anchor barrel (4). The lower wing plates (62) are vertically arranged and are of equal length to the lower anchor barrel (4). The multiple upper wing plates (61) and the multiple lower wing plates (62) are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence and are positioned on the same straight line.

7. The variable cross-section fabricated suction anchor of claim 1, wherein, The lower anchor barrel (4) has an ear plate (5) located in the middle of the outer side wall.

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