Resumen
Anchor dragging is a major threat to the structural integrity of submarine pipelines. A mathematical model in which the mechanical model of chain and the bearing model of anchor were coupled together. Based on the associated flow rule, an incremental procedure was proposed to solve the spatial state of anchor until it reaches the ultimate embedding depth. With an indirect measurement method for the anchor trajectory, a model test system was established. The mathematical model was validated against some model tests, and the effects of two parameters were studied. It was found that both the ultimate embedding depth of a dragging anchor and the distance it takes to reach the ultimate depth increase with the shank-fluke pivot angle, but decrease as the undrained shear strength of clay increases. The proposed model is supposed to be useful for the embedding depth calculation and guiding the design of the pipeline burial depth.