Study of water flow around different shaped anchors embedded 2CM in the sand bed

• Main Author: Lee, Zhi Yong
• Other Authors: Law Wing-Keung, Adrian
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Civil engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/172776
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The increasing popularity of solar photovoltaic farms for power generation in land-scarce Singapore necessitates a deeper understanding of their environmental impact. Sinkers, employed as anchors to secure solar farms against currents, have been identified as potential contributors to sediment suspension and soil erosion. Soil erosion poses a threat to water sources by elevating turbidity levels, rendering water unsafe for consumption and jeopardizing the habitats of ecosystems. Further research is imperative to comprehensively comprehend the environmental consequences of these solar installations. This research endeavors to elucidate the implications of water flow around partially embedded sinkers and to identify the most effective sinker shape in minimizing sediment movements. The investigation delves into various parameters, including manufacturing techniques and sinker shapes, utilizing three distinct sinkers with differing properties to compare the impact of shape, and embedding depth on sediment erosion patterns. Notably, the study reveals that rounded shape sinkers exhibit superior effectiveness in mitigating soil erosion around the sinkers. By partially submerging the sinker into the soil, this research proposes a preventive measure against the formation of local scour under the sinker, mitigating the risk of sinker failure and position shifting.