About the authors
| First name, Middle name, Last name, Scientific degree, Scientific rank, Current position. Full and brief name of the organization, The organization address. | Andrey A. Ananiev, candidate of technical sciences, associate professor, Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , ORCID: 0000-0003-4951-8727 |
| Title of the article | Determination of strength and rheological parameters of a deep-sea silty seabed under moving load |
| Abstract. | Problem statement. When developing projects for underwater buildings and structures for mining, there is a need to develop computational models of the resistance and deformation of ocean floor soils used as foundation soils. Prediction of the traction forces of a polymetallic nodule mining collector based on a viscoplastic soil–structure interaction model requires determination of the strength and rheological parameters of the deep-sea silty seabed. These parameters are essential for developing engineering computational models based on laboratory physical modeling. A review of the literature shows that the vane shear test is widely used to assess the strength of weak water-saturated clayey soils. However, existing device designs generally do not allow separate determination of the Coulomb (frictional–cohesive) and viscous components of shear resistance, and the conventional vane shear method does not account for thixotropic strength degradation. The aim of this study is the laboratory determination of the strength and rheological parameters of oceanic silts using the vane shear method for application in engineering calculations of deep-sea seabed resistance during collector movement. The tasks include: analysis of the applicability of the vane shear method to the stress–strain state of the seabed under collector loading; development of a laboratory vane shear device and a set of vane probes; experimental testing with determination of physical, mechanical, and rheological characteristics; and processing of the experimental results. Results. A laboratory vane shear device was developed that enables determination of strength and rheological parameters under conditions of large strains, high shear rates, and low normal pressures. The device allows recording of peak and residual shear resistance with consideration of thixotropic strength degradation. Density, water content, and porosity of the oceanic silts were determined to characterize their physical and structural state. Peak and residual values of cohesion, internal friction angle, viscosity coefficient, and yield stress were determined and used as input parameters for the viscoplastic model with Mohr–Coulomb yield criterion. Conclusions. The obtained strength and rheological parameters make it possible to predict, using the computational model, the resistance of the deep-sea silty seabed during the movement of the collector unit as a key element of the ocean mining complex, and can be used in engineering calculations to support design decisions in the planning, construction, and operation of the complex. |
| Keywords. | deep-sea silty seabed; oceanic silts; vane shear test; strength and rheological parameters; thixotropic strength degradation; viscoplastic soil model |
| For citations: | Ananiev A.A. Determination of strength and rheological parameters of a deep-sea silty seabed under moving load // News of KSUAE, 2026, № 1 (75), p. 19-29, DOI: 10.48612/NewsKSUAE/75.2, EDN: BVYKND |
