Numerical Investigation of Failure Mechanism During Pullout of Root Inspired Anchorages

By looking at nature, modern and sustainable engineering solutions can be developed. For instance, fibrous root systems, have inspired new prototypes of foundations, tiebacks or anchorages. A possible configuration of these innovative shapes is a central shaft branched out with multiple arms. Small-scale experiments have shown how root inspired anchorages can bring benefits in terms of pullout capacity and material efficiency (Mallett et al. 2018a, b). However, the failure mechanism of the pullout of these anchors, is not yet fully understood. This paper contributes to examining this issue by means of numerical simulations conducted via the Material Point Method (MPM). Different geometries have been investigated, such as a 3-branched, a 6-branched and a plate anchor system. Special attention is given to the volume of mobilized soil and the shape of the failure surface generated during the anchor pullout. The numerical results are compared with those of small-scale experimental tests presented in Mallett et al. (2018a, b, 2017).