Numerical simulation of mechanical characteristics and tension-torsion coupling effect of tension-type anchor cable

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to simulate the tension process of tension-type anchor cable and to explore the mechanical characteristics and tension-torsion coupling effect of anchor cable subjected to tension.Design/methodology/approachABAQUS numerical software is applied to construct the numerical models of tension-type anchor cables with different diameters. Through explicit contact, the characteristics of contact between grouting body-anchor cable and grouting body-rock mass are determined. Confining pressure is applied to the model through surface pressure, and drawing force is applied to the model by displacement loading so as to simulate the tension process of the anchor cable.FindingsThe results show that the stress is transmitted in both axial and radial directions in the anchorage section and distributed in a cone. The shear stress in the grouting body is unevenly distributed, and its peak value increases with the rise in confining pressure and anchor cable diameter. The stress characteristics of torque and axial force are basically consistent and evenly distributed in the free section; they gradually decrease in the anchorage section. Due to the tension-torsion coupling effect, the internal stress characteristics of the anchor cable structure vary. On average, the anchorage performance of each anchor cable model is improved by 6.19%.Originality/valueThe proposed method of numerical modelling is effective in addressing the interface contact between the anchor cable and the grouting body and in solving the problem with convergence of calculation. Compared with the indoor test, this method is more suited to collecting the internal mechanical data of the anchor body.