TEAMER: Ultra-Low-Cost Torpedo Anchors for Marine Renewable Energy

The submission includes all raw and processed data from Sperra's TEAMER RFTS 9 Drop Testing of Ultra-Low-Cost Torpedo Anchors for Marine Renewable Energy project. This dataset provides comprehensive technical information from the drop test campaign conducted at Sandia National Laboratories' 300-foot Drop Tower Facility from 9/16/24 - 9/20/24, where full-scale prototypes of Sperra's patented ultra-low-cost concrete torpedo anchors were evaluated for embedment performance in saturated sandy seabed conditions. The data supports the validation of concrete torpedo anchors as a cost-effective, low-carbon alternative to steel torpedo anchors for use with anchoring marine energy, with results informing future numerical modeling improvements and design refinements.

The dataset consists of numerical penetration analysis, high-speed photometric recordings, and raw instrumentation data. This includes a detailed breakdown of penetration depth estimates derived from theoretical models, as well as full experimental results from all 14 drop tests, including impact velocities, measured embedment depths, and retrieval forces. The dataset also contains high-speed photometric data in MP4 format, capturing impact events, velocities, angles, and embedment depths, which served as a primary data source for tests where accelerometer data was lost. The final set of data features raw unfiltered and processed acceleration data from on-board instrumentation, including time history plots from the six tests where accelerometer data was successfully recorded. This dataset allows for in-depth analysis of anchor embedment behavior, performance comparison between concrete and steel anchors, and assessment of the effects of fin geometry on penetration.

The data was collected under controlled laboratory conditions, meaning results should be interpreted with consideration of scale effects and the differences between test conditions and real-world offshore deployments. Variability in soil density over successive tests and limitations in drop alignment due to the release mechanism introduced some uncertainty in the penetration results. The findings indicate that further refinements to numerical models are necessary to improve prediction accuracy, and additional drop tests incorporating different soil types, anchor geometries, and impact conditions will be valuable. Future work should include full-scale field demonstrations to validate anchor performance under operational marine conditions. This dataset serves as a critical validation step for Sperra's concrete torpedo anchor technology, supporting its advancement for offshore renewable energy applications.

This project is part of the TEAMER RFTS 9 (request for technical support) program.