Ground Anchors have become an essential component in modern construction techniques for dam strengthening works, particularly in resisting structure buoyancy. Permanent ground anchors are used into the dam walls, abutments and dam toes as a means to economically improve the structures capacity.
Permanent ground anchors comprise three key components:
- Anchorage Head: This is the connection between the anchor and the structure, enabling the transmission of the anchor forces to the structure via the bearing plate.
- Anchor Free Length: This is the section of tendon from the anchorage head to the near end of the anchor’s fixed length. The tendon can be either steel or carbon fibre strand of various sizes and profiles.
- Anchor Fixed Length (also known as the Bond Length): This is the length of tendon by which the tensile force is transmitted to the surrounding ground through the grout. The tendon can be either a steel or carbon fibre strand of various sizes and profiles.