FUTURE WORK 



Plans for the immediate ongoing deep ocean anchoring development 

 are directed to the vibratory anchor concept. Prototypes of the second 

 generation design will be fabricated. Controlled testing of the 

 prototypes in both clay and sand will be conducted to confirm and/or 

 modify the analytical procedures devised for predicting anchor breakout 

 resistances for particular fluke sizes and seafloor sediments with a 

 given vibratory power unit. Other testing with the prototype will be 

 conducted in water 1000 to 6000 feet deep to evaluate the functioning 

 of the anchor at these depths. 



Still another phase of the immediate ongoing work will be a model 

 investigation. This study will attempt to establish the effect on the 

 holding capacity of anchors subjected to random variations in loading 

 as imposed by a structure on the sea surface. 



It is anticipated that a broadened deep sea anchor development 

 program will follow the vibratory anchor work. A hard seafloor embedment 

 anchor will be developed to provide anchoring capability in seafloor 

 types not suited to the vibratory anchor. An operational depth of 

 6000 feet, a 50,000-pound holding capacity, and functionability in 

 seafloors ranging from sediments to rock and coral with compressive 

 strengths to 15,000 psi are the goals for the hard seafloor anchor. To 

 increase embedment type anchorage potential to a greater percentage of 

 the seafloor, the vibratory anchor will be modified to be functional 

 at water depths to 20,000 feet. In addition to these efforts, a mooring 

 system utilizing embedment anchors will be developed to provide from 

 100,000 to 300,000 pounds of holding capacity in water depths to 6000 

 feet. To achieve these goals, existing embedment anchors and/or new 

 modular types will be studied. 



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