Setup following keying of plate anchors assessed through centrifuge tests in kaolin clay

This paper describes a series of centrifuge tests carried out at 100 g on square plate anchors to assess the potential capacity increase due to reconsolidation following the keying process. Numerous post-keying consolidation periods were adopted before reloading the anchor and measuring the subsequent peak capacity. The tests with long term reconsolidation periods gave an average bearing capacity factor, Nc = 13.5, which is in good agreement with experimental and numerical bearing capacity factors in the literature. The tests with the shortest reconsolidation periods yielded Nc values that were ~75% of the long term values. The rate at which reconsolidation takes place, as assessed through the increase in Nc with time, is much slower for plate anchors than for piles, suction caissons and dynamically installed (torpedo) anchors. It is suggested that the maximum practical reconsolidation is 50% for which Nc = 11.8.