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Ultra wide band (UWB) based localization has been extensively utilized in indoor and urban dense regions which enables centimeter-level localization accuracy over global positioning system (GPS). However, the prior UWB-based localization methods still lack better localization accuracy and there is increase anchor deployment cost. Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) was created to improve wireless data transfer, but its ability to leverage many antennas for spatial information has resulted in localization and tracking applications. For this reason, the researchers incorporated MIMO in the UWB to improve the performance of the localization system. Yet, there are limitations to guaranteeing communication dependability while using poor localization approaches. To address the issues in the existing works, we proposed UWB-collaborative localization (UWB-CollLoc) method. Initially, the optimal placement of anchor nodes in the UWB MIMO environment is done to mitigate the accuracy issues by static non-line of sight (NLOS) blockages. The optimal placement is done by utilizing the smart crow search optimization (SCSO) algorithm which optimally places the anchor nodes by ensuring several metrics. Before localizing unlocalized mobile orphan tags, the available line of sight (LOS) anchors and Sub-anchors in the environment are detected using lightweight attention network (LAN) by the mobile orphan tags by considering several LOS and NLOS-related metrics. After determining the LOS anchors and sub-anchors, collaborative localization is done to improve localization efficiency, reduce the new anchor deployment cost, and mitigate the errors caused by dynamic NLOS blockages. The time difference of arrival (TDoA) and Angle of Arrival (AoA)-based collaborative localization is employed to reap the complete advantages of multilateration and angulation techniques in which the already localized mobile tags act as sub-anchors for unlocalized mobile orphan tags. Finally, the correctness of the localization results is ensured by forwarding the results to the UWB Real-Time Location System (UWB-RTLS) server which validates the results using the Jaccard similarity measure. The proposed work is experimented with in the Network Simulator Version-3.26 (NS-3.26) tool and compared with existing works in terms of several validation metrics. The results show that the proposed work outperforms better than the existing works. The experimental result shows that the proposed method has number of transmitted packets (26), LOS accuracy (0.79), NLOS accuracy (0.9), and correct rate (0.905). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The verticality of a dynamically installed anchor (DIA) during free fall in water is vital for successful installation of the anchor within the seabed. Two lines, a deployment line and a mooring chain, are usually used to install a DIA. The mooring chain is prereleased to the seabed surface, presenting a catenary profile in the seawater. When the anchor is released and falls freely in the seawater, the verticality of the anchor is affected by the tension on the pad eye resulting from the connected mooring chain. Therefore, a vertically hanging arrangement method for the mooring chain is proposed, which is effective in reducing the tilt angle of the anchor during free fall in water compared with the traditional catenary arrangement method. Model tests are subsequently designed to justify the effectivity of the vertical-hanging arrangement of the mooring chain. Finally, a theoretical framework is established to predict not only the fall velocity but also the tilt angle of the DIA during free fall in water, with the deployment line and mooring chain taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the main component of the anchorage system in marine aquaculture facilities, the anchor pile is key to ensuring safety and stability. However, conventional monopiles have limited capacity to withstand uplift forces, thus rendering them susceptible to deviations and potentially causing damage to facility structures. Hence, a new winged monopile is proposed to improve and optimize the anchor pile. In this study, laboratory experiments are conducted to investigate the effect of load inclination angle (θ = 0°, 30°, 45°, and 60°), wing length (L = 30, 50, and 70 mm), and wing width (W = 10, and 20 mm) on the uplift resistance capacity of anchor piles in silty clay. The results show that: the winged monopile exhibits at least a 15% improvement in uplift performance compared with the conventional monopile (without wings) when the smallest wing plate parameters are selected (W = 10 mm, L = 30 mm). Additionally, the effect of the wing width on the uplift resistance under an oblique load is more evident than that of the wing plate length. As the area of the wing plate increases, the range of improved wing plate efficiency first increases, and then gradually decreases. This study can be used as a reference for the design optimization of uplift piles and the construction of marine aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in fine-tuning large-scale vision-language pre-trained models (VL-PTMs) have shown promising results in quick adaption to downstream tasks. However, prior research often lacks comprehensive investigation into out-of-distribution (OOD) generalization. Fine-tuning has a potential risk of overfitting, especially on few-shot OOD datasets when significant distribution shifts occur between the few-shot training examples and test sets. Previous research on fine-tuning's robustness to distribution shifts does not consider different characteristics of distribution shifts and may not effectively handle noisy data with spurious correlations. To address these challenges, we propose the Vision-Language Alignment Learning under Affinity and Divergence Principles (VLAD) to adapt VL-PTMs to robust few-shot OOD generalization with theoretical guarantees. Built upon the large-scale pre-trained vision-language foundation model CLIP, we leverage frozen language embeddings as invariant anchors to protect against distribution shifts, while using adapter layers to fine-tune pre-trained visual features for improved vision-language alignment. Besides, we introduce affinity and divergence principles to further mitigate overfitting during the vision-language aligning process by increasing class discrimination and suppressing non-causal features. More importantly, we offer theoretical evidence highlighting the superiority of general language knowledge in achieving more robust OOD generalization performance. The tighter upper bound of the OOD generalization errors by the proposed regularization loss is also shown in theoretical analysis. Our approach is substantiated by extensive experiments and ablation studies on diverse datasets, validating our theoretical findings. The code is available at https://github.com/LinLLLL/VLAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of industry intelligence has promoted the importance of sorting robots, but the shortcomings of sorting tasks are also gradually obvious. The target detection of the sorting robot in the process of sorting and grasping is affected by the anchor frame setting, and its grasping efficiency and recognition effect are low. Therefore, a detection network based on an anchor frame-free regression algorithm is proposed in this study, and a positioning and grasping method of the sorting robot based on the Deep Belief Network (DBN) algorithm is proposed. The algorithm experiment shows that the prediction accuracy of the proposed anchor-free detection network in the PASCAL VOC dataset reaches 92.91, significantly higher than that of other detection networks. In addition, the sorting robot was researched and designed with high accuracy in occlusion target recognition. When the occlusion area reaches 70%, the accuracy rate is as high as 81.26%, which is far higher than other detection schemes. The above results show that in improving the sorting robot’s target recognition ability, the anchor-free detection network can significantly improve its recognition accuracy. At the same time, introducing the DBN network can improve the robot’s recognition ability for occluded targets, which is of great significance to the development of the sorting robot and the intelligent industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of support structures with good explosion resistance to support and reinforce underground projects has become a focus of concern for relevant units in order to ensure the safety of underground projects in explosive ground loads. The blast resistance of underground caverns and the influence of support parameters on blast resistance have been studied when lining and pre-stressing anchors are supported individually under dynamic and static coupling. Straightwalled arched caverns are chosen for this study because of their strong blast resistance. The influence of excavation unloading on the support structure was analyzed under the condition of a burial depth of 500 m. The study investigated the blast resistance of caves supported solely by singular concrete lining support and singular pre-stressed anchor bolt support. The research findings indicate that pre-stressed anchor bolts significantly limit the deformation capacity of surrounding rock while lining is more effective in restricting the vibration response of surrounding rock. The pre-stressed anchor bolts ensure operation within the strength range throughout the entire process with no alteration in load-bearing capacity. Increasing the thickness of the lining can reduce the vibration response of the cavern. Meanwhile, enhancing the pre-stressed anchor bolts within a certain range notably restricts the deformation response of the cavern. Therefore, the pre-stressed anchor bolts should be employed as the supporting structure to bear the excavation and unloading loads of the cavern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive three-dimensional numerical investigation of horizontal square anchors embedded in geogrid-reinforced sand. Prior experimental studies have demonstrated notable enhancements in anchor uplift capacity when placed below geogrid reinforcement in soil. However, these results are limited to small anchor plates tested in laboratory conditions with over-reinforced sand. In contrast, this study focuses on large field-scale anchors and explores the influence of anchor width, embedment depth, reinforcement size, stiffness, and tensile strength on uplift capacity. The findings reveal that the optimal size for geogrid reinforcement is three times the anchor width. A diminishing improvement in uplift capacity with increasing anchor width was observed. Additionally, deeper anchor embedment reduces the uplift capacity improvement in geogrid-reinforced sand. The geogrid reinforcement is found to be more efficient in the case of shallow anchors placed in loose sand. The major contribution of this paper lies in the response analysis of large anchors and providing a better understanding of the uplift mechanism in geogrid-reinforced sand. • This paper presents a three-dimensional numerical investigation of large field-scale horizontal square anchors embedded in geogrid-reinforced sand. • The findings reveal that the optimal size for geogrid reinforcement is three times the anchor width (B) in contrary to the 5B value reported in the previous literature. • A diminishing improvement in uplift capacity with increasing anchor width was observed. • Deeper anchor embedment reduced the uplift capacity improvement in geogrid-reinforced sand. • The geogrid reinforcement is found to be more efficient in the case of shallow anchors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the packaging process, it is essential to detect the steel stamping characters inside the box to identify any missing or repeated characters. Currently, manual detection suffers from low efficiency and a high false detection rate. To address these challenges, a steel stamping character recognition and analysis system based on machine vision has been developed. The enhanced YOLOv7 detection method was employed for character identification, complemented by a statistical analysis approach to achieve automated judgment and detection. To address the issue of size disparity between large and small characters, a small size anchor box and a larger detection head were integrated. Furthermore, modifications were made to the output structure of the YOLOv7 prediction network to enhance multi-scale detection capabilities. The inclusion of the location attention convolution module bolstered global feature extraction, thereby enhancing the detection accuracy of similar characters. Moreover, the utilization of a hash table was used to improve the efficiency of mapping steel stamping character recognition sequences. The experimental results demonstrate that the enhanced model achieves an accuracy of 99.83%, with a processing efficiency of 10.5 ms per single frame. These findings align with the performance criteria for automatic recognition and analysis of steel stamping characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the steep terrain of southwestern China, there are numerous complex strata characterized by thin overburden layers and well-behaved underlying bedrock, yet excavation poses significant challenges. This situation is unfavorable for the construction of transmission towers' foundations. To address this issue, inclined anchor short-pile foundations have been proposed as foundations for transmission towers. These foundations not only reduce the depth and construction difficulty of excavation but also make full use of the load-bearing capacity of the bedrock. To investigate the influence of the anchor rods' layout on the uplift resistance characteristics of inclined anchor short-pile foundations, numerical models were established using FLAC3D. The effects of the anchor rods' position and the length of the free segment on the uplift resistance characteristics of inclined anchor short-pile foundations were explored. The results indicated that variations in the anchor rods' position and the length of the free segment had minimal impact on the uplift resistance characteristics of inclined anchor short-pile foundations. The pile head displacements of short piles with different anchor rod positions were similar under both loading conditions. Under pure uplift loads, the maximum displacement before failure was approximately 13 mm, while under combined uplift and horizontal loads, the maximum displacement before failure was around 15 mm. Placing the anchor rod too low increased the difficulty of construction, while positioning it too high resulted in a shorter embedment length of the anchor rod in the pile's body, leading to potential failure at the pile–anchor node. Therefore, it is recommended to position the anchor rod near the center of the short pile's body. As the length of the free segment of the anchor rod decreased, there was a slight reduction in the displacement under the same uplift loading conditions, with an overall difference of less than 5%. However, if full-length anchoring was adopted, the anchor rod was prone to tensile shear failure. Compared with short-pile foundations of the same size, inclined anchor short-pile foundations demonstrated enhanced ultimate bearing capacity under uplift and combined uplift and horizontal loading. The improvement was more significant when horizontal loads were present. Under horizontal loading, the ultimate uplift bearing capacity of inclined anchor short-pile foundations decreased by only 14%, whereas that of single-pile foundations decreased by 24%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the intricacies of variable load combination factors (ψ) within structural codes under fundamental design scenarios, with Eurocodes serving as the primary reference. Currently, variable loads are combined by adding one load, the leading load with its full value, and the other load, the accompanying load, with a reduced value multiplied by a combination factor ψ. This approach employs an independent load combination methodology, utilizing hypothetical reference materials. In contrast, this paper advocates for a shift towards dependent load combination, anchored in the use of actual reference materials. Specifically, it is proposed that imposed loads be combined without the combination factor, i.e., ψ = 1. Given that combination factors are in approximate unity or pertain to infrequent load cases, this research recommends the elimination of ψ from codes altogether. This recommendation stems from the recognition that the current combination factor calculation excels in cases with approximately equal loads with a significant reliability gain, while more frequent unequal loads introduce a minor reliability gain and harmful unsafe errors. Despite the overall minor safety advantage of about 2–3% being negligible considering unavoidable safe errors of about 7% in codes, this simplification significantly reduces code complexity, enhances user-friendliness, and substantially decreases the workload associated with design processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the advantages of easy installation, low cost, and high bearing capacity (P), torpedo anchors (TAs) are suitable for anchoring the floating platforms used in deep-sea oil exploitation. This study investigated the P of conventional and end-bearing TAs in saturated, normally consolidated soils based on a numerical calculation using the ABAQUS software. According to numerical calculations with different parameter values, the effects of factors such as the location, area (S), embedment depth (h), and pullout angle (α) of the bearing plates on P were investigated. Based on the numerical calculation results, vertical (V)–horizontal (H) envelopes for the P of TAs were established. The results reveal that the P of a conventional TA under vertical pullout loading between numerical calculation and American Petroleum Institute (API) standard exist a difference of only 3%, which confirms the reliability of the numerical model. The P of the end-bearing TAs was significantly higher than that of conventional TAs, and the TA equipped with bearing plates at the bottom had a relatively high P, which increased significantly as S and h increased. When S exceeded a certain value, P increased with α. An increase in S resulted in an increase in the envelope coefficient A and a decrease in the envelope coefficient B, and caused the envelope to protrude outward. Establishing V–H envelopes has a certain reference value for estimating the P of TAs in actual engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in industry and increased energy demands have led to the construction of onshore and offshore platforms. The stability of these platforms is a major challenge for geotechnical engineers. Expandable anchors have recently been proposed to address this issue. Researchers have investigated the bearing capacity of anchors with different shapes and plate numbers using experimental and numerical methods. The use of a suitable method for numerical modeling of expandable anchors is necessary to determine their performance. The current study evaluated the bearing capacity of multi-plate anchors using the coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian, discrete element, and finite element methods and compares their results. The effect of an increase in the number of plates (to three), the distance between plates, the plate shape (square or circular), and the soil density (80% or 60%) on the bearing capacity of the anchors was determined. The results showed that the Eulerian model was in very good agreement with the experimental results and that the square anchor exhibited a higher bearing capacity than the circular anchor. An equation is proposed for the calculation of the bearing capacity of expandable anchors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional Mohr–Coulomb (M-C) failure criterion is commonly used in existing studies to determine the ultimate pullout capacity of plate anchors buried in cohesive-frictional soils. However, this criterion overestimates the tensile strength of these soils by assuming a linear failure envelope (in both compression and tensile regimes) within the normal-shear stress space. In this study, the ultimate pullout capacity of horizontally buried plate anchors in cohesive-frictional soils was determined, accounting for the effect of tensile strength cutoff. The study proposed a series of semianalytical solutions utilizing the kinematic horizontal slice approach and investigated the ultimate pullout capacity of four different anchor shapes, including circular, square, rectangular, and strip anchors. The impact of nonassociated flow rule on the results was also examined. It has been observed that the results obtained using the M-C failure criterion with a tension cutoff are significantly lower than those obtained using the conventional M-C failure criterion. The difference between both results increases as soil cohesive strength increases and anchor burial depth decreases. These findings clearly demonstrate that eliminating tensile strength from the strength envelope leads to a more conservative estimate of plate anchor pullout capacity. The study emphasizes changes in anchor failure surfaces for various parameter combinations and provides results that are consistent with specific solutions reported in the literature. Practical Applications: The study investigates using plate anchors to enhance the stability of both onshore and offshore structures, including transmission towers, guyed masts, chimneys, and mooring platforms. These structures often encounter significant vertical pullout forces. The research establishes a theoretical framework for calculating the ultimate vertical pullout capacity of plate anchors with various shapes (strip, rectangular, and circular) when buried in cohesive-frictional soils. A crucial aspect of this analysis involves incorporating the specified/limited value of tensile strength in cohesive-frictional soils when assessing the ultimate pullout capacity of plate anchors. This consideration is vital for ensuring a safe and conservative design, especially for structures subject to uplift forces. The findings provide valuable insights for engineers and practitioners, offering a reliable method to optimize the usage of plate anchors in the design of pullout-resistant structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The deep‐sea ground contains a huge amount of energy and mineral resources, for example, oil, gas, and minerals. Various infrastructures such as floating structures, seabed structures, and foundations have been developed to exploit these resources. The seabed structures and foundations can be mainly classified into three types: subsea production structures, offshore pipelines, and anchors. This study reviewed the development, installation, and operation of these infrastructures, including their structures, design, installation, marine environment loads, and applications. On this basis, the research gaps and further research directions were explored through this literature review. First, different floating structures were briefly analyzed and reviewed to introduce the design requirements of the seabed structures and foundations. Second, the subsea production structures, including subsea manifolds and their foundations, were reviewed and discussed. Third, the basic characteristics and design methods of deep‐sea pipelines, including subsea pipelines and risers, were analyzed and reviewed. Finally, the installation and bearing capacity of deep‐sea subsea anchors and seabed trench influence on the anchor were reviewed. Through the review, it was found that marine environment conditions are the key inputs for any offshore structure design. The fabrication, installation, and operation of infrastructures should carefully consider the marine loads and geological conditions. Different structures have their own mechanical problems. The fatigue and stability of pipelines mainly depend on the soil‐structure interaction. Anchor selection should consider soil types and possible trench formation. These focuses and research gaps can provide a helpful guide on further research, installation, and operation of deep‐sea structures and foundations.

ABSTRACT آثار زيجريس/لادامانتيا (مرسى باجوش): إلقاء الضوء علي العلاقات البحرية القديمة على الساحل المصري للبحر الأبيض المتوسط [AR] منطقة مرسى باجوش هي عبارة عن خليج كبير يقع على ساحل البحر الأبيض المتوسط في مصر، على بعد حوالي 250 كيلومترًا غرب الإسكندرية. في العصور القديمة، كان ذلك الخليج يضم مينائي )زيجريس( و)لادامانتيا( الرومانيين. وتم ذكرهما عند الجغرافي كلوديوس بطليموس. وفي الدليل البحري الروماني المعروف باسم (( Stadiasmus Maris Magni، حيث وجه ذلك الدليل البحارة إلى الرسو في هذين الميناءين لأنهما آمنان، كما أن السفن يمكن أن تتزود فيهما بالمياه العذبة. ويعتبر مينائي )زيجريس( و)لادامانتيا( من بين كثير من المراسي الطبيعية الممتدة على طول ساحل البحر الأبيض المتوسط بين الإسكندرية والحدود الليبية. ومنذ عام 2015، يخضع خليج مرسى باجوش لمشروع للبحث الأثري تحت الماء يقوم به مركز الإسكندرية للآثار البحرية والتراث الثقافي المغمور بالمياه بجامعة الإسكندرية، بدعم من مؤسسة أونور فروست البريطانية. وقد كشف مشروع المسح الأثري لمرسى باجوش عن ثروة من المعلومات حول النشاط البحري على طول الساحل الشمالي الغربي لمصر في العصور القديمة. ومن بين الاكتشافات الأثرية عدة شواهد على حطام لسفن من العصور الهلينستية والرومانية والعثمانية، بالإضافة إلى أكبر مجموعة من مراسي السفن القديمة التي تم اكتشافها حتى الآن على الساحل الشمالي الغربي لمصر. من ثم، سوف يتناول هذا البحث مشروع المسح الأثري لمرسى باجوش، وأهم النتائج التي تم التوصل إليها حتى الآن. [EN] The site of Marsa Bagoush is a large bay located on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, approximately 250 kilometers west of Alexandria. In antiquity, it comprised the Roman harbours of Zygris and Ladamantia. The harbours were mentioned by Claudius Ptolemaeus, and in the Roman guidebook, the Stadiasmus Maris Magni. Sailors were advised to anchor in those two harbours because they were safe and had access to fresh water. Zygris and Ladamantia are among several natural anchorages that extend along the Mediterranean coastline between Alexandria and the Libyan borders. Since 2015, the sites of Zygris and Ladamantia have been subject to an archaeological investigation conducted by the Alexandria University Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage (CMAUCH), with kind support of the UK-based Honor Frost Foundation. The Marsa Bagoush Research Project (MBRP) revealed a wealth of information on ancient maritime activities along the northwest coast of Egypt. Archaeological finds include evidence of shipwrecks from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Ottoman periods, in addition to the largest collection of ancient anchors to be found on the northwest coast of Egypt. This paper will present the project, its context, goals, methods, and latest results.

In mountainous regions, landslides pose significant and frequent threats, causing extensive damage due to their destructive nature and frequency, therefore determining their likely occurrence sites and environmental factors is essential for hazard assessment. The infinite slope approach characterizes slope stability using a factor of safety (FOS) to assess the likelihood of slope failure and is frequently used to estimate the occurrence of shallow landslides on soil and regolith-covered slopes. Various methods have been used to evaluate and spread uncertainty across such models. Slope failure is a significant geological occurrence brought on by topography and weather, which result in a variety of ground movements. Engineers must plan and implement measures to mitigate hazards, safeguarding both lives and property from potential risks and dangers by using an adequate stabilizing solution. Technology and software advancements have made it simpler than ever to handle challenging issues that used to require a lot of time in every profession. Over the past decade, software utilization in civil engineering has surged. GEO 5 is a versatile program gaining prominence, aiding in the resolution of diverse geotechnical challenges. Through the installation of IoT cameras in various sand and clay areas along the bank of the Mahandi River in Odisha, we have gathered the data necessary to develop the region in this case. a select selection of which we have chosen for our research. In this study, slope stability-related modules have been carefully examined and used for the analysis of slope stability. Using the GEO5 program, the geometry of the issues was established, and the study took into account several stability optimization techniques. Additionally, the cost factor of various reinforcing techniques was calculated and contrasted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generalized model and parameter equation for the internal fracture surface of tensile type anchor cable anchorage section are constructed, and the calculation model of ultimate bearing capacity is derived based on the principle of limit equilibrium. The shape of the internal fracture surface in the anchorage section and the expression of its parameter equation are experimentally studied, and the variation law of the parameter equation and fracture range with the diameter of the anchor cable and confining pressure is analyzed. The parameter equation is substituted into the calculation model to realize the calculation and verification of the model. Through theoretical derivation, a calculation model of ultimate bearing capacity of anchor cable is obtained, which comprehensively considers the average shear strength of anchorage section, the shape of fracture surface, fracture range and confining pressure. The tests show that according to the magnitude of the confining pressure on the anchorage section, the internal fracture surface takes on two shapes: cylindrical and trumpet‐shaped, the parameter equation of trumpet‐shaped fracture surface obeys logarithmic distribution approximately. The coefficient a decreases with the increase of confining pressure but increases with the increase of anchor cable diameter, the constant b increases with the increase of confining pressure but decreases with the increase of anchor cable diameter. The ranges of horizontal and vertical fracture decrease with the increase of confining pressure, and increase with the increase of anchor cable diameter. The deviations between the theoretical calculation and the experimental results are less than 6.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low water levels of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret) in recent decades due to droughts and anthropogenic factors have exposed large portions of the lakebed. Archaeological surveys of the newly exposed areas yielded prehistoric sites, harbours, anchorages, shipwrecks, cargoes and shoreline installations, attesting to changing maritime activity on the lake through time. The different assemblages are presented and discussed within the context of the lake's highly specific physical and climatic settings. Scarcity of shelters, onshore winds and unpredictable lake-level changes influenced human activity, as reflected in the archaeological records. Collectively, the finds represent the history of maritime activity on the Sea of Galilee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prestressed anchor cables are commonly utilized to reinforce slopes in earthquake-prone zones. The existing upper bound limit analyses of seismic slopes reinforced with prestressed anchor cables have the following limitations: (1) neglecting variable seismic excitations; (2) ignoring the three-dimensional spatial layout of cables because of using the plane-strain analysis. In this study, the time-space effects of seismic waves are analytically described by sin-cos functions incorporating wave amplification or soil damping. Based on the upper bound of plastic theory and a three-dimensional discretized failure mechanism, internal energy dissipation rate and work rates contributed by gravitational forces, variable seismic excitations, and prestressed anchor cables are computed. An energy-based function of dynamic factors of safety (DFS) is established, followed by a global optimization to identify the critical harmonic pattern of DFS. The accuracy is checked by numerical simulations where the seismic stability of an engineering slope adjacent to Yu-Huai railway is evaluated. Comparisons also show that the conventional simplified method not only cannot reflect the spatial layout of cables but also overestimate the mechanical contribution of cables. Finally, the dominant effects of the layout of cables, soil properties as well as physical parameters of seismic waves on the DFS and the critical failure mechanism are discussed. A method to evaluate the stability of seismic cable-reinforced slopes A kinematical admissible 3D failure mechanism of cable-reinforced slopes is generated Critical harmonic pattern of safety factors is explicitly obtained. Effect of cable layout, dynamic parameters and soil properties are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As ground anchors are widely used to stabilize various structures, load distributive compression anchor (LDCA) is gaining popularity owing to their high load-bearing capacity and ease of removing strands. Unlike conventional anchors, an LDCA consists of multiple anchor bodies, thus allowing the distribution of the load among them. In addition, interference effects that differentiate the behavior of LDCA from that of single compression anchor are induced. These effects must be considered when designing an LDCA; however, the lack of research on its supporting mechanism has led to LCDA design being based on conventional criteria and experience. Furthermore, existing studies have not focused on the behavior of LDCA in soil, which is more vulnerable than in rock. This study proposes a physical model test that evaluates the load transfer mechanism of an LDCA. A series of pull-out tests is performed on an LDCA installed in residual soil to investigate the behavior of the LDCA under various conditions, by varying parameters such as the total anchor length, number and spacing of anchor bodies, and loading conditions. The test results show that the movement of the upper anchor body causes a tensile load on the grout and additional grout–soil shear stress on the lower anchor body, which reduces the ultimate bearing capacity of the LDCA. Moreover, the test results reveal that the interference effect between anchor bodies increases as the spacing decreases, thus resulting in a greater reduction in the ultimate bearing capacity. The findings of this study are anticipated to develop the basis for the design and application of LDCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous plasticity models for predicting anchor kinematics under eccentric loading in clay are mostly rigid plastic. They may produce inaccurate outcomes in some conditions. This paper presents an elastoplastic model to address this issue. Closed-form solutions for anchor velocities are derived considering two types of boundary conditions: the padeye (1) fastened to a mooring chain, with the chain behavior modeled; or (2) hinged to a rigid rod. Compared with previous methods, the proposed method more realistically captures the soil behavior while avoiding complicated iterative procedures for solving anchor velocities, thus enabling anchor trajectories to be accurately and efficiently obtained by simple time integration. A series of 3D large deformation finite element analyses are conducted to study the anchor behaviors under different eccentric loading, and the proposed model is used to reproduce these simulations. Their results are compared for validation, with good agreements achieved. These results indicate that anchors under eccentric loading will ultimately translate along a fixed direction with constant soil reaction forces. Analytical solutions for this ultimate state are given based on the proposed method. Particularly, the ultimate resultant soil reaction force is demonstrated always passing through the anchor center. This is an assumption in a previous literature but is found to be a consequence of the proposed anchor constitutive relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for deep excavations in construction projects emphasizes the necessity of robust support structures to ensure safety and stability. Support structures are critical in stabilizing excavation pits, with a primary focus on enhancing their bearing capacity. This paper employs finite element modeling techniques to conduct a numerical analysis of nails and helical anchors' bearing capacity. To reinforce the stability of pit walls, selecting an appropriate method for guard structure construction is imperative. The chosen method should efficiently redistribute forces induced by soil mass weight, displacements, and potential loads in the pit vicinity to the ground. Various techniques, including trusses, piles, cross-bracing systems, nailing, and anchorage systems, are utilized for this purpose. The study evaluates numerical models for two guard structure configurations: nailing systems and helical anchorage. It examines the impact of parameters such as displacement, helical helix count, helix diameter variations, and the integration of nailing systems with helices. Comparative analyses are conducted, including displacement comparisons between different nailing systems and helical anchor systems, along with laboratory-sampled data. The research yields significant insights, with a notable finding highlighting the superior performance of helical bracings compared to nailing systems. The conclusions drawn from this study provide specific outcomes that contribute valuable knowledge to the field of deep excavation support structures, guiding future design and implementation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of lower coal roadway support under double gobs in close coal seams, there are problems such as the whole destruction of the lower coal seam and the intermediate strata, the thin roof of the lower coal roadway with the smaller support space, the upper rock of the lower coal roadway without anchor bearing layer, the roof falling, the anchor cable offing, and so on. On the basis of the engineering background of No. 11103 haulage roadway in Fenxi coal mine, the research methods of theoretical modeling analysis, numerical simulation analysis and field engineering test are comprehensively adopted. In this paper, the layout of the roadway with floor insertion in the lower coal seam, the distribution characteristics of surrounding rock deviatoric stress, the control principle of broken surrounding rock and the coupling support method of shed–cable–prop are systematically studied. The study shows that many measures are needed to ensure the stability of the surrounding rock in the strong mining roadway of the lower coal seam. The lower coal seam roadway section was modified from the original rectangular section to adopt an arched section to counteract the broken roof. The staggered position of the lower coal seam roadway layout was modified from the original coal roadway position to a coal–rock roadway, so as to avoid the area of high deviatoric stress in the coal pillar and the area of crushed coal body, and to leave an effective support space for the roof. The support scheme of the lower coal seam roadway was improved to use anchor cable and single prop to support the weak section of U‐type steel shed with local coupling, and realize unequal force coupling by adjusting the size of the force at different coupling points. In the field monitoring the deformation of the roadway is small, and the support effect is good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing research on anchor foundations has predominantly focused on their axial load-carrying capacity, disregarding their resistance to the combined uplift and lateral forces during operation. To address this gap, the present study employs a three-dimensional finite-difference analysis to examine the behavior of horizontal anchor foundations buried in sand under the influence of uplift and lateral loads. The novelty of this work lies in the application of combined loading on the shaft head and the subsequent evaluation of both vertical and horizontal displacements of the foundation. The results reveal that the displacements are notably more significant in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the paper presents a detailed analysis of the foundation's failure mechanisms under various combinations of vertical and horizontal forces. It is observed that pure vertical forces induce an uplift shear failure, whereas pure horizontal forces lead to a rotational failure. Based on the results, a failure envelope in the V:H loading plane is proposed for the horizontal anchor foundation subjected to oblique loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method for determining the anchor force of a 3-D anchored slope based on the limit equilibrium analysis and the modification of the normal stress over the slip surface method. For a slip surface, the required anchor force can be calculated with the given factor of safety. Four limit equilibrium equations containing anchor forces are therefore established for 3-D slope. The nonlinear relationship between the factor of safety and the anchor force is turned into a linear relationship between the horizontal seismic coefficient and the anchor force by the force and moment equilibrium conditions. With a given factor of safety, the initial normal stress of the 3-D anchored slope is supposed and modified by a modifying function. An iterative procedure is proposed to determine the anchor force with a prescribed value of K c and to ensure that the normal stresses are positive on the whole slip surface. The method applies to any slip surface, and its practical engineering application confirms its efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Anchor cable prestressing is one of the key factors in maintaining the stability of the supporting structure and controlling ground deformation. In order to further understand the influence of anchor cable prestress loss on the stability of the foundation pit, an underground station pit of Qingdao Metro Line 6 is taken as the engineering background, and numerical simulation research is carried out by using FLAC3D, which calculates the surface settlement, the deformation of enclosing piles, the support axial force, and the axial force of anchor cables in the process of excavation of the foundation pit and compares it with the on-site monitoring data, to get the law of the impact of prestressing force on the stability of the foundation pit in order to provide a reference for the design of the soil–rock Combined pit support system design and engineering construction to provide reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole-genome alignment (WGA) is a critical process in comparative genomics, facilitating the detection of genetic variants and aiding our understanding of evolution. This paper offers a detailed overview and categorization of WGA techniques, encompassing suffix tree-based, hash-based, anchor-based, and graph-based methods. It elaborates on the algorithmic properties of these tools, focusing on performance and methodological aspects. This paper underscores the latest progress in WGA, emphasizing the increasing capacity to manage the growing intricacy and volume of genomic data. However, the field still grapples with computational and biological hurdles affecting the precision and speed of WGA. We explore these challenges and potential future solutions. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive resource for researchers, deepening our understanding of WGA tools and their applications, constraints, and prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansive soil is one of the problematic soil types due to its potential to swell highly when moisture content increases and shrink when moisture decreases. The soil exhibits mechanical behavior that is highly sensitive to changes in natural moisture content influenced by environmental factors such as infiltration and evaporation. It has the potential to damage civil structures such as road pavement and lightweight buildings. An alternative method to overcome this phenomenon is the use of ground anchors, a structural element installed into a soil or rock layer to withstand the tension load. An expandable ground anchor is proposed as an alternative to overcome the drawback of a helical anchor. Wings are installed in such a way that additional passive pressure is developed. The study was firstly conducted by performing anchor pullout capacity tests on a dense sand layer, followed by a swelling test of expansive soil, and finally, the performance test of ground anchor to withstand swelling pressure using three different sizes of steel box anchor prototypes, 4 cm × 4 cm × 30.5 cm, 5.5 cm × 5.5 cm × 30.5 cm and 7 cm × 7 cm × 30.5 cm. A series of anchor pullout capacity tests were conducted on a 90 cm dense sand layer, continued by a swelling test of 25 cm expansive. The result indicates that an expandable anchor can significantly withstand the swelling of expansive soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a reconfigurable framework for neural network based video in-loop filtering to guide large-scale models for content-aware processing. Specifically, the backbone neural model is decomposed into several convolutional groups and the encoder systematically traverses all candidate configurations combined by these groups to find the best one. The selected configuration index is then encapsulated as side information and passed to the decoder, enabling dynamic model reconfiguration during the decoding stage. The preceding reconfiguration process is only deployed in the inference stage on top of a pre-trained backbone model. Furthermore, we devise WMSPFormer, a wavelet multi-scale Poolformer, as the backbone network structure. WMSPFormer utilizes a wavelet-based multi-scale structure to losslessly decompose the input into multiple scales for spatial-spectral features aggregation. Moreover, it uses multi-scale pooling operations (MSPoolformer) instead of complicated matrix calculations to substitute the attention process. We also extend MSPoolformer to a large-scale version using more parameters, referred to as MSPoolformerExt. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed WMSPFormer+Reconfig. and WMSPFormerExt+Reconfig. achieve a remarkable 7.13% and 7.92% BD-Rate reduction over the anchor H.266/VVC, outperforming most existing methods evaluated under the same training and testing conditions. In addition, the low-complexity nature of the WMSPFormer series makes it attractive for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of prestressing anchor active support technology in tunnel engineering is becoming morecommon. However, the support characteristics and mechanism of action have not been fully understood for shallow, large-span rocky tunnels. In order to investigate the bearing characteristics of the surrounding rock under the prestressed anchor support system, a concealed excavation station of Qingdao Metro Line 6 was used as the engineering background, and based on the similarity principle of formulating experimental materials for stratum and support structure modelling, the bearing characteristics of the anchors under the prestressed anchor and ordinary anchor support were investigated by hydraulic loading tests. The results indicate that: ① The interaction between prestressed anchors and the surrounding rock creates a load-bearing anchor solid that can effectively support most of the overlying loads. The application of prestressed anchors during the overburden loading process increased the warning load value of tunnel instability damage by 42.8% and the ultimate load value by 41.2%. ② The overburden loading process involved the prestressing anchors going through the tight anchorage load holding stage and the de-anchorage unloading stage. Simultaneously, the lining underwent the strain accumulation stage, strain surge stage, and strain release stage during the overlay loading process.③ The prestressed anchor under active support has better force synergy with the rock body than an ordinary anchor, without the axial force mutation phenomenon. This allows the support performance of the anchor to be fully utilized. Additionally, the prestressed active support effectively inhibits the development of fissures and significantly improves the overall stability of the tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torpedo anchor is one offshore anchoring which has been gaining popularity recently for floating structures. The torpedo anchor was expected to resist the environmental loading transferred from the floating platform. Thus, the understanding of the holding capacity of torpedo anchors under vertical and horizontal combined loading is the key concern of its design. Nonetheless, most of the previous studies are deterministic without considering the common existing random heterogeneity nature of marine soil. In light of this situation, this paper reports a large deformation random finite element study under the framework of the Monte Carlo method. VH failure envelopes of torpedo anchors in heterogeneous soil were obtained by conducting simulations of continuous extraction procedures along different directions. Furthermore, the strain-softening behaviour of the soil was also accounted for considering the server deformation of the soil. The results show that both the size and shape of the VH failure envelope are significantly affected by random heterogeneity of soil. A series of VH failure envelopes of various probabilities of failure was thus given to guide the design. Results in this paper may be constructive for the safety design of the torpedo anchor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity and large scale of multi-view data have brought more significant challenges to conventional clustering technology. Recently, multi-view clustering has received widespread attention because it can better use different views’ consensus and complementary information to improve clustering performance. Simultaneously, many researchers have proposed various algorithms to reduce the computational complexity to accommodate the demands of large-scale multi-view clustering. However, the current reviews do not summarize from the perspective of reducing the computational complexity of large-scale multi-view clustering. Therefore, this paper outlines various high-frequency methods used in recent years to reduce the computational complexity of large-scale multi-view clustering, i.e. third-order tensor t-SVD, anchors-based graph construction, matrix blocking, and matrix factorization, and compares the corresponding algorithms based on several open datasets. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of the current algorithm and the point of improvement are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In shaft mining, monitoring the deformation of the roadway due to mining pressure is of great significance to the safe production of coal mines. For this reason, a distributed high-density anchor (cable) support force monitoring system was designed by developing a low-cost anchor (cable) stress monitoring device, which consists of an anchor (cable) stress sensor and a data acquisition device. The whole system consists of an anchor bar (cable) stress monitoring device and a mine roadway deformation monitoring substation. The signals collected by the anchor force sensors are processed by the data acquisition device and sent to the self-developed mine roadway deformation monitoring substation through Long Range Radio (LoRa) wireless communication. All data from the monitoring substation are transmitted to the ground control center in real time via the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) network transmission protocol. The distributed high-density arrangement of monitoring nodes reflects the deformation trend of the whole section of the roadway by monitoring the anchor bar (cable) support force data of multiple sections, which effectively ensures the safety of the roadway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Possible discontinuities in the subsurface have a major impact on the load‐bearing behavior of post‐installed fastenings. For concrete, the behavior of post‐installed anchors and thus their design can be clearly addressed as concrete is assumed as a homogeneous fastening substrate. This is valid except, for example, in the area of building joints and at joints of precast concrete elements, where the formation of structural joints inevitably occurs and which basically correspond to a separation surface. In contrast, rock mass is characterized by the rock type, but is generally also significantly influenced by its discontinuities. These play a decisive role concerning rock mass stability and show a great impact on the load‐bearing capacity of rock, especially for fasteners with a shallow embedment depth. It is to be assumed that the same also applies to separating surfaces in concrete. Furthermore, the question arises as to the non‐destructive preliminary detectability of such weak zones. For carrying out a comparative study under controlled conditions, artificial interfaces of different geometries were generated in concrete in laboratory tests by inserting PTFE layers at different positions of the test member. Pull‐out tests of post‐installed fastening systems were carried out in their vicinity to determine the load transfer as well as the failure mode. It could be shown that discontinuities have a negative effect on pull‐out loads not only in the rock mass, but also in concrete. However, detection of these by means of a rebound hammer was only possible in the rock mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the study of analytical solutions for the seismic stability of slopes under anchorage conditions is one of the hottest subjects in engineering. In this paper, an analytical solution for the seismic safety of the three-dimensional (3D) two-stage rock slope reinforced with prestressed anchor cables governed by the nonlinear Hoek–Brown criterion was deduced, in which the analyses of seismicity were performed by the latest modified pseudo-dynamic method. This method supplements the consideration of the damping effect of the rock medium on seismic waves, which is more in line with the real seismic situation. A mathematical geometric model was developed for calculating the external forces work and internal energy dissipation acting on 3D rotating rock masses reinforced with prestressed anchor cables, in which the seismic work rate was calculated using a new layer-by-layer superposition summation method. The analytical solution of the safety factor could be collated as an explicit function of several variables, and then, the optimal value was obtained by the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. To corroborate the accuracy of new analytical solutions, the results were contrasted with those of the pertinent literature. The results of the two comparisons were very close. Ultimately, the sensitivity analyses and coupling effects of seismic pseudo-dynamic factors and prestressing anchorage factors were carried out. It was found that even small seismic intensities had a large effect on the stability of rock slopes with developed joints. Increasing the number of steps and prestressing anchors can effectively improve the stability of rock slopes under seismic effects. The conclusions have significant implications for the anchorage design of the 3D two-stage rock slope as seismic events occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success rate of spinal fusion surgery is mainly determined by the fixation strength of the spinal bone anchors. This study explores the use of an L-shaped spinal bone anchor that is intended to establish a macro-shape lock with the posterior cortical layer of the vertebral body, thereby increasing the pull-out resistance of the anchor. The performance of this L-shaped anchor was evaluated in lumbar vertebra phantoms (L1-L5) across four distinct perpendicular orientations (lateral, medial, superior, and inferior). During the pull-out experiments, the pull-out force, and the displacement of the anchor with respect to the vertebra was measured which allowed the determination of the maximal pull-out force (mean: 123 N ± 25 N) and the initial pull-out force, the initial force required to start motion of the anchor (mean: 23 N ± 16 N). Notably, the maximum pull-out force was observed when the anchor engaged the cortical bone layer. The results demonstrate the potential benefits of utilising a spinal bone anchor featuring a macro-shape lock with the cortical bone layer to increase the pull-out force. Combining the macro shape-lock fixation method with the conventional pedicle screw shows the potential to significantly enhance the fixation strength of spinal bone anchors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elastic theory of chromonic liquid crystals is not completely established. We know, for example, that for anomalously low twist constants (needed for chromonics) the classical Oseen-Frank theory may entail paradoxical consequences when applied to describe the equilibrium shapes of droplets surrounded by an isotropic phase: contrary to experimental evidence, they are predicted to dissolve in a plethora of unstable smaller droplets. We proposed a quartic twist theory that prevents such an instability from happening. Here, we apply this theory to the data of two experiments devised to measure the planar anchoring strength at the plates bounding a twist cell filled with a chromonic liquid crystal; these data had previously been interpreted within the Oseen-Frank theory. We show that the quartic twist theory affords a better agreement with the experimental data, while delivering in one case a larger value for the anchoring strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed a modified lift-off test that enables evaluation of the anchoring condition (anchored capacity or creep ratio) during the investigation of the residual anchor load and facilitates the restressing of anchors. To verify the applicability of the proposed measure in practice, a case study of the rehabilitated landslide slope of the T16 support tower of the Taipei Maokong Gondola System was conducted, a two-stage procedure that simultaneously facilitated the investigation and rehabilitation of an anchored slope with load loss. Results of an investigation of the residual load acting on 619 anchors indicated that the average load loss of the anchors was approximately 36% compared with the design load. In conventional design, approximately 223 extra anchors must be installed in the study area. However, the corresponding number in the proposed measure is about one-fifth the number of anchors required in the conventional approach. This paper emphasizes the merit of using the modified lift-off test in reducing construction time and construction costs in slope rehabilitation. Furthermore, the proposed rehabilitation measure adopted in this study did not involve adding many concrete structures to the original anchored slope. Thus, these measures are environmentally friendly and contribute to sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of a novel compact yielding anchor cable aims to address the demand for anchorage support in deep rock masses that experience significant deformation. This innovative cable utilizes the combined energy release principles of the expansion tube and spiral transmission. The yielding device primarily consists of an external yielding sleeve (threaded tube) and an internal yielding body. The internal yielding body is created by embedding a cone within the steel strand of the anchor cable. Through extrusion slip and cooperative fastening rotation, the yielding mechanism achieves high-strength constant-resistance yielding support within a small aperture. A thorough analysis of the yielding mechanical behavior has led to the establishment of a theoretical calculation model for the yielding force. This was followed by experimental investigations into the mechanical characteristics. The key findings are as follows: (1) the length and the large end diameter of the yielding body are crucial parameters that influence the yielding performance, with the length having a more significant impact; (2) the yielding force ranges from 121.4 to 170.4 kN, demonstrating high-strength yielding within a compact design; (3) the theoretical values of the yielding force show a deviation ranging from − 17.3 to 13.4% when compared to the measured value. This indicates an acceptable agreement between the calculation model and the experimental results, affirming the credibility of the yielding mechanical behavior analysis; (4) the yielding force exhibits periodic fluctuation within the range of 120 ~ 170 kN during stable yielding, while the energy release rate of the yielding process is 0.191 kJ/mm. For example, when considering a 5 m yielding cable with a 250 mm yielding length, the released energy prior to material yield increases from 14.75 to 62.50 kJ (a rise of 323.7%), and the maximum release energy increases from 90.25 to 138.00 kJ (a rise of 52.9%). This highlights the effectiveness of enhancing the energy release capability, especially prior to the material yield of the cable shaft. Highlights: A novel compact yielding anchor cable, incorporating the combined energy release principles of the expansion tube and spiral transmission, was developed to provide effective yielding support for substantial deformations in high-stress conditions. The theoretical analysis model of yielding behavior, which accounts for extrusion slip and cooperative fastening rotation, accurately describes the yielding force, underscoring the reliability of the yielding mechanical behavior analysis. The compact yielding design significantly enhances the energy release capability, particularly before the material yield of the cable shaft, thereby reducing the potential risk of anchor cable failure in the face of significant deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate a deep foundation pit for urban substation construction in Chengdu, China. The pit was excavated in a sandy gravel layer and has a depth of 24.6 m. Detailed field surveys and monitoring were carried out to investigate the deformation characteristics of the foundation pit and its supporting structure related to excavation. Flac3D software was used to analyze the influence of pile anchor design parameters, including pile diameters, pile spacing, anchor cable prestress, anchor angle, and the number of rows of anchor cables, on deformation of the deep foundation pit. The results showed the pile diameter was the most critical influencing factor for pile deformation. The influences of anchor cable prestress and anchor angle on the horizontal displacement of the pile were inferior to the influence of the pile diameter and the number of anchor cable rows. The results reported in this paper provide guidance for the optimal design of foundation pits in settings with similar geological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fish anchor is an economically viable offshore foundation engineering technology that has been proposed in recent years. By fish anchor, we mean a fish-shaped dynamically installed anchor that can penetrate into the seabed through water by its own weight. However, the existing research studies seldom consider the hydrodynamic characteristics of its free fall installation, resulting in uncertainties regarding its underwater installation characteristics. Therefore, based on OpenFOAM, this study first investigated the directional stability of fish anchors during its underwater falling process through the static model analysis method and dynamic model analysis method. The findings indicated that the directional stability of fish anchors was insufficient, rendering them suitable only for release and installation at low heights (i.e., less than 4.2 times the anchor length) without marine environmental loads. Furthermore, the anchor inclination angle during installation is significant, thereby impacting its penetration depth and pull-out capacity in the seabed. To solve this problem, the concept of an innovative booster-assisted fish anchor is proposed, which can significantly enhance the directional stability of conventional fish anchors. Results show that the maximum installation height of the new booster-assisted fish anchor is increased by 2.4 times compared to the original design, thereby enhancing both the penetration speed and uplift capacity. Based on the findings, recommended installation and construction conditions are provided. Finally, a predictive formula for the installation height and verticality of the new booster-assisted fish anchor under current action is presented to offer guidance for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plate anchors have great advantages that are useful in deep or ultradeep water mooring systems. The keying behaviors have a deep effect on the embedment loss and pullout capacity of strip plate anchors. In this paper, the effect of soil remolding on the keying behaviors of strip plate anchors is studied by large deformation finite-element (LDFE) analysis. First, the LDFE results are compared with centrifugal test results, theoretical solutions, and LDFE data from previous literature, showing good agreement. Then, a series of LDFE cases is studied to investigate the effects of the padeye offset, load eccentricity, soil sensitivity, and initial embedment depth on the embedment loss and pullout capacity of plate anchors during the keying process. The LDFE results show that different load eccentricity corresponds to different soil failure mechanisms, and both padeye offset and soil remolding will reduce the pullout capacity of plate anchors. Finally, an equivalent soil strength is introduced considering rate effect and soil remolding of clay. A combined factor and an equivalent ultimate pullout capacity are used to estimate the ultimate embedment loss and pullout capacity of strip plate anchors in uniform clay, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous improvement of communication and computing technology, the technical threshold of the Metaverse (MVS) has been lowered, gradually expanding the scope of technology penetration, and attracting attention to the construction of characters in the MVS environment. In virtual reality (VR), character design and scene realizations are the foundation and guarantee of technology application. VR also provides an effective tool for the transformation of traditional media and the exploration of news communication innovation. On this basis, firstly, the introduction of VR is analyzed in the MVS environment. Secondly, based on the application status of VR, the modeling design and structure optimization of three-dimensional (3D) characters in the MVS environment are studied. Furthermore, by improving the traditional 3D modeling process, an adaptive hierarchical detail model is proposed to realize the scene modeling mechanism of the virtual environment combining image modeling and geometric modeling, so as to quickly complete the construction of the character image model of a news anchor in the scene. Finally, the model of the experimental design is simulated and constructed to test the effect of the model to construct the image of news anchors. The results reveal that the frame rate of news anchor images designed by the model can be kept at about 40 frames per second. The actual value of modeling details is always greater than the ideal value of modeling design. By comparing the actual modeling time of the control group and the experimental group, it can be found that the modeling time of the experimental group is shorter. Therefore, it can be concluded that the VR-based hierarchical detail model in the MVS environment designed in this research can better complete the image construction of news anchors. The research results can provide a reference and theoretical basis for the subsequent modeling work in the MVS environment and the construction of VR characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]