ABSTRACT
Geotechnical engineers should request/obtain/report centric loads at seafloor. Some softwares take overturning H and restoring M as positive, so care is needed to change sign convention if this is the case. Structural and geotechnical engineers can adopt different conventions, and it is important to transfer/convert loads properly. In particular the geotechnical compression positive convention may differ from the structural engineering interpretation that often considers tension positive. Multiple variations of sign conventions can be adopted by different engineers across the design process, and it is essential that the adopted convention is clearly communicated between groups. Equivalent VHMT geotechnical loads need to be derived from these. This is the other way around from structural analysis, where typically tension is positive. Always state units and sign convention in calculations and reports.
