Static, Cyclic, and Post-cyclic Pullout Response of Horizontal Plate Anchors in Reinforced Soft Clay

Plate anchor is a commonly used foundation system designed to resist static and cyclic pullout loads from the superstructure. A short period of cyclic disturbance caused by wind, wave, or tide can reduce the ultimate pullout capacity of the anchor. In practical conditions, the post-cyclic pullout load resisted by the plate anchor is often lower due to the loss of undrained shear strength of soil after cyclic loading history. The geotextile reinforcement placed above the horizontal anchor plate strongly influences the anchor's ultimate static and cyclic pullout capacity, and addresses the post-cyclic shear strength degradation. This study presents the outcomes of a series of experimental tests on plate anchors embedded in reinforced and unreinforced soft clay. Strain-controlled monotonic and cyclic pullout tests are conducted on plate anchors buried at different embedment depths. The results indicate that the reinforced system displays a higher static and cyclic pullout capacity with lesser anchor displacement. Due to the superior cyclic resilience property of woven geotextile, the anchors embedded in reinforced soil exhibit a higher post-cyclic pullout resistance compared to the anchors in unreinforced soil.