Vertical uplift capacity of a horizontal strip anchor embedded in the slope face under seismic load
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
This study estimates the seismic vertical uplift capacity (QuE) of a horizontal strip anchor embedded in the face of a stable, cohesionless soil slope using lower bound, upper bound, and 15-node mixed Gauss elements in finite element limit analysis (FELA). The effects of soil friction angle (ϕ), slope inclination (β), embedment ratio (D/B), and horizontal and vertical seismic acceleration coefficients (αh and αv) have been explicitly considered for QuE estimation. Design charts showing the variation in the seismic breakout factor (NγE) with ϕ, β, D/B, αh, and αv have been developed. The results show that NγE increases with increasing ϕ and D/B, and decreases with increasing β, keeping other parameters constant. Under seismic conditions, increasing αh lowers NγE, especially at lower ϕ values when αv is absent. The αv consistently reduces NγE, showing a similar impact across different ϕ values at fixed β, D/B, and αh. Further, the Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) method is used to accurately predict NγE. For practicing engineers, nonlinear regression (NLR) is performed to develop a concise empirical equation for rapid estimation of NγE, eliminating the need for numerical simulations. Moreover, a graphical user interface (GUI) tool has been developed to simplify the practical estimation of QuE.
Keywords
cohesionless slope, MARS, NLR, seismic breakout factor, seismic uplift capacity, strip anchors
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
10-1-2026
Article Number
110507
ISSN
02677261
Volume
209
Publication Title
Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Engineering
Funding Information
The first author acknowledges financial support received through the institute fellowship provided by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Copyright
subscription content
Content Type
Metadata only
Recommended Citation
Sharma, V., Raj, D., & Shukla, S. K. (2026). Vertical uplift capacity of a horizontal strip anchor embedded in the slope face under seismic load. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 209, Article 110507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2026.110507