All Issue

2026 Vol.39, Issue 1 Preview Page

Research Paper

A Study on the Buckling Resistance of Large-Diameter Suction Anchors for Mooring Systems

계류용 대구경 석션앵커의 좌굴성능에 대한 연구

Kwan Young Hong1
,
Dae Jin Jung2
,
GyeHee Lee3*
홍 관영1
,
정 대진2
,
이 계희3*
1Director, Harbor & Coastal Department, Saman Co., Gwancheon, 13837, Korea
2Senior Researcher, Mokpo National Maritime University, Mokpo, 56628, Korea
3Professor, Department of Ocean Civil Engineering, Mokpo National Maritime University, Mokpo, 56628, Korea
1(주)삼안 항만부 이사
2목포해양대학교 책임연구원
3목포해양대학교 해양건설공학과 교수
*Corresponding Author
28 February 2026. pp. 33-40
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

This study conducts a non-linear buckling analysis on mooring suction anchors using the finite element method (FEM) to evaluate their buckling behavior. The results were compared and analyzed against the values in current design codes commonly applied to the buckling design of suction anchors. The numerical model was constructed using shell elements to appropriately capture the buckling modes. The analysis evaluated both the simplified loading conditions used in design codes and the complex combined loading states of suction anchors installed in subsea environments. The results indicated that for suction anchors, out-of-plane loads are more dominant than in-plane axial loads. While the Det Norske Veritas (DNV) design code, which covers out-of-plane loading conditions, appeared to demonstrate higher applicability, an accurate evaluation of buckling behavior using FEA is necessary for cases involving torsion, shear force, and hydrostatic out-of-plane loads. Additionally, further research is required for the estimation of buckling strength and safety factors to ensure consistent safety levels when performing buckling evaluations based on both design codes and numerical analysis.

Keywords
mooring suction anchor
non-linear buckling analysis
design codes
complex combined loading

본 연구에서는 계류용 석션앵커에 대해서 유한요소법을 이용한 비선형 좌굴해석을 수행하여 좌굴거동을 산정하고 이를 석션앵커의 좌굴설계에 주로 적용되고 있는 설계기준에서 제시하고 있는 좌굴거동과 비교 분석하였다. 해석모델은 shell요소를 이용하여 좌굴형상이 적절히 반영되도록 구성하였으며 설계기준에서 사용되는 단순화된 하중조건과 해중에서 설치되는 석션앵커의 복합적인 하중상태를 각각 고려하여 해석을 수행하였다. 그 결과 석션앵커의 좌굴거동은 면외방향 하중이 면내 수직하중보다 지배적이고, 면외방향 하중조건을 명시하고 있는 DNV설계기준이 보다 적용성이 높아 보이지만 비틀림과 전단력, 수리정역학적 면외하중의 경우에는 유한요소해석을 이용한 정확한 좌굴거동평가가 필요할 것으로 판단되었다. 추가적으로 설계기준과 해석에 의한 좌굴평가시 일관된 안전성을 확보할 수 있는 좌굴강도와 안전계수의 산정에 대한 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

키워드
계류용 석션앵커
비선형 좌굴해석
설계기준
복합하중
References
1

American Petroleum Institute (2004) Bulletin on Stability of Uncased Tubulars(API Bulletin 2U), American Petroleum Institute.

2

American Petroleum Institute (2014) Recommended Practice for Planning, Designing and Constructing Fixed Offshore Platforms—Working stress.

3

ANSYS, Inc. (2024) ANSYS 2024 R1.

4

Benjamin, C., David, W., Katherine, K., Susan, G., Jonathan, K., Michael, B. (2023) Anchor Geotechinics for Floating Offshore Wind: Current Technologies and Future Innovations, Ocean Eng., 279, 114327

10.1016/j.oceaneng.2023.114327
5

Equinor (2022) http://www.equinor.com/energy/hywind-scotland

6

Frossard, A., Bendzovski, R., Tuveng, M. (2025) Hywind Tampen - A Geotechnical‐ and Structural Design of Shared Suction Anchors, from Concept to Installation, Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in OffshoreGeotechnics (ISFOG 2025), p.402.

7

Hong, K.Y., Kim, S.M., Choi, K.K. (2022) A Study for Variation of Buckling Strength during Installation of Suction Foundation, The 2022 Spring Conference of Korea Wind Energy Association.

8

Kim, D.H., Jung, N.Y., Lee, W.H., Kim, T.H. (2024) Variation in the Pullout Capacity according to the Tilt and Misorientation of a Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Suction Anchor Using Geometric Method, J. Korean Soc. Coast. & Ocean Eng., pp.95~104

10.9765/KSCOE.2024.36.3.95
9

Lee, G.H., Tran, D.P. (2013) Buckling Behaviors of Bucket Foundation for Offshore Wind Tower, J. Korean Soc. Coast. & Ocean Eng., pp.123~127.

10.9765/KSCOE.2013.25.3.123
10

Lee, T.H., Bang, S.C. (2016) Port and Marine New Technologies - Suction Foundation(Part 1) : Current Technological Status and Application Cases of Suction Foundation, Summer Edit. Port Assoc. J., Korea Port Association, pp.70~79.

11

Madsen, S., Andersen, L.V., Ibsen, L.B. (2013) Numerical Buckling Analysis of Large Suction Caissons for Wind Turbines on Deep Water, Eng. Struct., 57, pp.443~452.

10.1016/j.engstruct.2013.09.041
12

Rodney Pinna B.E. (2003) Buckling of Suction Caissons During Installation, Ph.D thesis, University of Western Australia School of Civil Engineering.

13

Ryu, M.S., Lee, J.S., Kwag, D.J., Seo, Y.H. (2019) Verification of Tripod Suction Pile Applicability Through Dynamic Characteristic Analysis of Offshore Wind Turbine at Each Installation State, J. Wind Energy., 10(3), pp.12~21

10.33519/kwea.2019.10.3.002
14

Seagrean Wind Energy (2023) http://www.seagreenwindenergy.com

15

Tae-Sung S&E e-Magazine, ANZINE No.65 (2023) Buckling Analysis A to Z.

16

Veritas, D.N. (2019) Recommended Practice: Fatigue Design of Offshore Steel Structures(DNV-RP-C202), pp.37~41.

17

Veritas, D.N. (2023) Offshore Standard: Structural Design of Offshore Wind Turbine Structures(DNV-OS-C201). Det Norske Veritas.

Information
  • Publisher :Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국전산구조공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국전산구조공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 39
  • No :1
  • Pages :33-40
  • Received Date : 2025-11-25
  • Revised Date : 2025-12-03
  • Accepted Date : 2025-12-08
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7734/COSEIK.2026.39.1.33
Journal Informaiton Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
Online Submission
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref crossmark
  • crossref cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
  • ccl
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close