Analytical model for vertically loaded anchor performance with a bridle shank

Vertically loaded anchors offer an attractive alternative for mooring systems because of their relatively high efficiency and low cost. The bridle shank is an important feature of these anchors because its reconfiguration significantly affects their performance. A plasticity model considering a bridle shank is introduced to investigate the mechanism of the system. Model-based parametric studies on the effects of the bridle length, drag distance and anchor line angle are also conducted. These studies establish a new, more rational analytical model for these anchors, as well as contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of them in research and practice.