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13-08R
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Jun 87 83-08R

NCEL
Techdata Sheet
Drag Embedment Anchors
for Navy Moorings
These revised performance characteristics can help
the designer in the anchor selection process.

A large variety of drag embed ANCHOR PERFORMANCE

ment anchors are available commer
cially. However, the performance of Anchor performance can be de
these anchors is often uncertain. fined in terms of broad categories
To eliminate much of the uncertain of seafloor type. Table 1 describes
ty, the Navy has tested many of the various seafloor categories and
the anchors shown in Figure 1 and the level and consistency of anchor
has developed a more thorough un capacity possible in each category.
derstanding of their behavior. Predictions for anchor holding capa
These updated performance char city are provided by Figures 2 and
acteristics are included in this 3. These predictions are based
document to guide the designer in principally upon NCEL-generated
the anchor selection process. performance data. Some commercial

the
Ubrary ot
the

0 4 1987
ih, 0t Illinois
Stevdig

Flipper Delta

Stevfix

Figure 1. Drag embedment anchors

NAVAL CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY PORT HUENEME CALIFORNIA 93043

OFILLINOIS-URBANA
UNIVERSITY

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

3 0112104099038
 F
ILLIM
AT URb.-< ... C, 'AIGN

Table 1. Description of Soil and Drag Anchor Capacity

Soil Description Anchor Capacity

Mud • Normally consolidated, very soft • Holding capacity is reasonably

to soft, silt to clay size sedi consistent provided anchor
ment typical of harbors and bays. flukes trip open.
• Soil strength increases linearly • Certain anchors (see Figure 2)
with depth at 12 psf/ft ± 4 psf/ft. require special care during
Approximately equates to standard installation to ensure fluke
penetration resistance (SPT) of tripping .
2 blows/ft at 20-ft depth.

Sand • Medium to dense sand with bulk wet • Holding capacity is consistent
density (*,) of 110 to 140 pcf provided sand fluke angle is
typical of most nearshore deposits. used.
• SPT range -- 25 to 50 blows/ft.

Clay • Medium to stiff cohesive soil. • Good holding capacity which

Soil shear strength (s ) con will range between that pro
sidered constant with <^epth. vided for sand and mud.
• range -- 3-1/2 to 14 psi. • For stiff clay (s > 7 psi)
su
use sand capacity, Figure 3.
• SPT range -- 4 to 16 blows/ft. • For stiff clay (s > 7 psi)
use sand fluke aVigle.

Hard Soil • Very stiff and hard clay • Holding capacity is consistent
(s > 14 psi, STP > 16) and provided anchor penetrates; may
i
very dense sand (SPT > 50, have to fix flukes open at sand
> 140 pcf). fluke angle to enhance embedment;
Yb
jetting may be required.
• Seafloor type can occur in high
current, glaciated, dredged
areas.

Layered • Heterogeneous seafloors of sand, • Anchor performance can be

Seafloor gravel, clay, and/or mud layers erratic. Contact NCEL for
or mixtures. assistance if anchors cannot
be proof- loaded to verify
safe capacity.

Coral/Rock • Can also include areas where • Unsatisfactory seafloor for

coral or rock overlain by a
is permanent moorings.
thin sediment layer that is
insufficient to develop anchor • Can be suitable for temporary
capacity. anchoring if anchor snags on
an outcrop or falls into a
crevice.
• Consider propellant-embedded
anchors; contact NCEL for
assistance.
.11:
■Ctfft

data were used when full test de capacity of the anchor plus buried
tails were available. When data chain. The Figure 2 predictions as
were limited, predictions were ex sume anchor fluke tripping to en
tended with a new analysis pro able anchor embedment. Certain
cedure based upon geotechnics. anchors may have to be placed with
Both Figures 2 and 3 reflect the flukes held or blocked in the
total anchoring capacity or holding open position. Also, Figure 2 is

1000 !;:;:; i t '!:: ::::::::: ' ' ' '' " ' j rrTr'rrr :::::::::::: !:::::!:: : : : : j ; ; ' :
j |j :"{j'!81
900
800

700

600

500

400

300

^
M
200
Si
3

100
90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 30 40

Anchor Weight (kips)

Figure 2. Anchor system holding capacity in mud.

valid for anchors with wire or chain The anchor holding
capacity in
mooring line. Anchor system hold mud develops specified by
at rates
ing capacity can be calculated using the relationships of Figure 4. The
the method described in Table 2. great majority of anchors could be
This procedure is appropriate for represented by curve 3 with minimal
anchor sizes outside the range of loss in accuracy. These curves can
Figures 2 and 3. be used to determine anchor drag

Anchor Air Weight (kips)

Figure 3. Anchor system holding capacity in sand.

 Table 2. Parameters HR
and b for Equation 1,

"m
=
HR(WA/10,000 lb) (1)

HM = Anchor System Holding Capacity

n

Soft Soils Hard Soils

(Soft clays (Sands and
and silts) Stiff clays)
Anchor Type3
HR b HR b
(kips) (kips)

Boss 210 0.94 270 0.94

BRUCE Cast 52 0.92 250 0.8
Flat Fluke Twin Shank __c c
BRUCE 250 0.92
BRUCE Twin Shank 189 0.92 210 0.94
Danf orth 87 0.92 126 0.8
Flipper Delta 0.92
c c
139

G.S. AC- 14 87 0.92 126 0.8

Hook 189 0.92 100 0.8
LWT (Lightweight) 87 0.92 126 0.8
Hoorfast 87 0.92 0.8
100° 0.8
NAVMOOR 210 0.94 270 0.94
Offdrill II 87 0.92
60d
0.8
100d 0.8

STATO 210 0.94 250® 0.94

190*

STEVDXC 139 0.92 290 0.8

STEVFIX 189 0.92 290 0.8
STEVIN 139 0.92 165 0.8

STEVMUD 250 0.92 __sr _JS

STEVPRIS (straight shank) 189 0.92 210 0.94
Stockless (fixed fluke) 46 0.92 0.8
44
Stockless (movable fluke) 24 0.92
70h
0.8
44n

aFluke angles set for 50 deg in soft soils and according to manufactures' specifications in
hard soils, except when otherwise noted.
"b" is an exponent constant in the holding capacity Equation and not a footnote.
cNo data available.
dFor 28-deg fluke angle.
For 30 deg fluke angle.
f For
dense sand conditions ( near shore ) .
^Anchor not used in this seafloor condition.
For 48-deg fluke angle.
 io 20 30 40
Drag Distance/Fluke Length

Figure 4. Percent holding capacity versus drag

distance in mud.

distance for any anchor working the open sand position reduces drag
capacity. A safe working capacity to about 2 fluke lengths.*
of 50% of maximum (factor of To achieve the capacities spe
safety = 2) is recommended for high cified by Figures 2 and 3, minimum
efficiency anchors. For Navy moor depths of sediment specified by
ings, a factor of safety of 1.5 is Table 3 are required. Drag anchors
considered suitable for the STOCK- will penetrate in about 1 fluke
LESS anchor because of its insensi- length in sand and in 3 to 5 fluke
tivity to small seafloor variations. lengths in mud. Penetration in hard
In sand, the maximum capacity soil will be in about 1/2 fluke
is achieved in less than about 10 length. The maximum and safe capa
fluke lengths of drag. Safe working cities must be reduced for sediment
capacity (f.s. = 2 for high effici
ency anchor; f.s. =1.5 for STOCK- ^Anchor fluke length as defined here was taken
from manuf acaturers ' literature* manufactur
LESS) occurs in 3-1/2 to 4 fluke ers' often include the crown and tripping
lengths. Fixing the anchor flukes in palm in their definition of fluke length.
 Table 3. Estimated Maximum Fluke Tip Penetration of
Some Drag Anchor Types

Normalized
Fluke Tip Penetration
Anchor Type (fluke lengths)

Mud
Sands/Stiff Clays
(e.g., Soft Silts and Clays)

STOCKLESS 1 3*

MOORFAST
1 4
OFFDRILL II

BOSS
DANFORTH
FLIPPER DELTA
GS (TYPE 2)
1 4-1/2
LWT
STATO
STEVFIX
STEVPRIS

BRUCE FFTS
BRUCE TS 5
1
HOOK
STEVMUD

*Fixed fluke STOCKLESS

depths less than those required to Handbook for Marine Geotechnical

achieve maximum capacity. Capacity Engineering, NCEL, March 1985
is approximately directly propor
Table 2 replaces Table 7.5-1
tional to depth of embedment in mud
Figure 2 replaces Figure 7.5-1
and depth of embedment squared in
sand .
Figure 3 replaces Figure 7.5-2
The performance data provided TN-1688, "Design Guide for Drag
assume that the anchors trip and Embedment Anchors," NCEL, Jan
penetrate into the seafloor and are 1984
stable (maintain their maximum capa
city with drag). This may not al Figure 2 replaces Figure 6.1
ways occur. Table 4 lists some Figure 3 replaces Figure 6.2
options for improving anchor per
formance. DM 26.5, "Fleet Moorings Navy
Design Manual," Naval Facilities
Table 2 and Figures 2 and 3
Engineering Command
should be used to update the
appropriate table and figures in the Figure 2 replaces Figure 79
following documents: Figure 3 replaces Figure 78
 Table 4. Ways to Improve Anchor Performance

Problem Symptom Possible Reason Possible Solution

Poor Mud • Near constant line • Flukes not trip • Increase size of tripping
Performance tension 1/2 to 2 ping palms; add stabilizer.
times weight of anchor • Weld or hold flukes in
and mooring line on open position.
seabed .

• Drop in tension during • Anchor unstable. • Add stabilizers.

proof - loadi ng with • Increase stabilizer length.
continued drag. • Use different or larger
anchor .

• Soil more com • Reduce fluke angle to sand

petent than setting or if possible by
anticipated . a smaller (5° to 10° re
duction ) .

• Proof-load tension • Seafloor softer » Use larger- anchor.

less than needed. than expected. • Use different anchor.
• Less sediment • Add chain.
than needed over • Use backup anchor.
harder substrata.

Poor » Near constant tension • Flukes not trip • Sharpen fluke tips; add
Sand/Hard 1 to 3 weight
times ping. fluke tip barbs to break
Soil of anchor and mooring up soil.
Performance line on seabed. • Weld or block flukes in
open position.
• Extend anchor crown by
light weight pipe or plate
construction .
- • Water jet anchor flukes
into seabed.

• Variable tension 3 to • Flukes not pene • Reduce fluke angle; reduc

10 times weight of trating . tion to as little as 25°
anchor and mooring may be needed for very
line on seabed. dense or hard soils.
• Sharpen flukes.
• Extend or add stabilizers.
• Use larger or different
anchor.

• Rapid drop in tension • Anchor unstable • Extend or add stabilizers.

during proof-loading • Use larger or different
with continued drag. anchor .

• Proof-load tension • Less sediment • Use larger or different

less than needed. than needed. anchor .
• Very hard sea- • Add chain.
f loor . • Use backup anchor.
• Use pile anchor.

NCEL CONTACT NAVFAC CONTACT

Robert Taylor, Code L42; tel: Dr. C. Chern, Code 04T4A;

autovon 360-5419, comm (805) 982- tel: autovon 221-0035, comm (202)
5419. 325-0035.