The International Association of Foundation Drilling Geo-Quality Assurance and Control Conference, Dallas, Texas, U A !

o"e#$er %th &''( )nhance#ent of Ground Anchor Design $ased on Tests of *ulti+le Anchors A.D. Barley, C. Eng.1 and M.E. Bruce, P.E.2 A$stract Multiple anchors are stressed with a multiple of synchroni ed hollow ram !ac"s #up to se$en in num%er&. 'oad is applied and distri%uted in a controlled manner to a series of short fi(ed lengths #unit anchors& located at staggered positions within the o$erall fi(ed length of ) to 12 m. *his loading method allows monitoring of load, load loss, tendon e(tension and permanent mo$ement for each of the unit anchors. +n a test program, typically , to - sets of data are pro$ided for each multiple anchor and the load distri%ution and ultimate %ond stress of each short section of the fi(ed length can %e determined accurately. *he analysis of such data has led to ad$ancement of the design process for fi(ed lengths for all anchors. Introduction +t is widely ac"nowledged %y researchers and anchor specialists that load distri%ution o$er fi(ed lengths in con$entional anchors is non.uniform #e.g., P*+, 2//,&. *he longer the fi(ed length, the lower the a$erage %ond stress at the grout0soil interface and the less 1efficient2 is the mo%ili ation of a$aila%le soil strength #3stermayer, 1)-,&. Modern techni4ues that employ a multiple of 1unit2 anchors in a single %orehole ha$e allowed significant increase in anchor performance %ecause the load is transferred to the soil more efficiently o$er a multiple of short staggered fi(ed lengths. Anchor capacities of 5/// "6 and design loads of o$er 2/// "6 ha$e %een recorded on recent pro!ects. +n addition to the %enefit of higher capacity, testing of multiple anchor tendons also pro$ides information on ultimate grout0soil %ond stress in unit anchors founded at different points within the o$erall fi(ed one. *hese additional data ha$e %een used to de$elop an empirical e4uation that 4uantifies the efficiency of fi(ed lengths and may %e used to estimate capacity.

1 2

Director, 7BMA 7ingle Bore Multiple Anchor, 8nited 9ingdom: phone; <,, -=1 ,>1 ,///: fa(; <,, 1,2> 52? /=/: email; tony.%arley@s%masystems.com and s%mallc@co%we%.net. President, geotechnica, s.a., +nc., P.3. Bo( 1-=, Aenetia, PA 15>?-, phone; #-2,& ),2.,22/: fa( #-2,& ),2.1)11: me%ruce@co%we%.net.

Con"entional Anchors Bor con$entional ground anchors, the tendon to grout %ond length is generally similar to the grout to ground fi(ed anchor length. *he elastic nature of the steel tendon hea$ily influences the nature of the load transfer. *ypically, the tendon to grout %ond capacity is high, and the load distri%ution is controlled %y the %ond at the wea"er grout to ground interface. 8nfortunately, con$entional test anchors are rarely instrumented to such a degree that %ond stress distri%ution may %e determined accurately, and ultimate %ond stress may %e precisely "nown. Data Provided. *rials on con$entional anchors, typically ha$ing ?. to 12.m fi(ed lengths, pro$ide useful o$erall information %ut only limited data on %ond stress; 'oad0e(tension data. Ma(imum *est 'oad sustained. 'oad loss or creep mo$ements at load ma(ima. Mo$ement associated with each load cycle. Progressi$e increase in apparent tendon free length with increase in load. A$erage $alue of %ond stress at failure o$er the entire fi(ed length.

Guidance Provided by Test Data. +t should %e noted that $alues of %oth calculated tendon free length and e(hi%ited fi(ed length mo$ements are apparent only. Mo$ements are considera%ly influenced %y friction induced during loading and %y negati$e friction on the strand during rela(ation. Bor e(ample, an anchor may indicate a mo$ement of, say, 12 mm after a load cycle and, %y calculation from elastic properties, an apparent free length of, say, 21.? m #C 1/=D intended design free length of 2/ m&. 7uch deri$ed $alues do not indicate that an elastic frictionless tendon of length 21.? m has displaced the fi(ed length in the soil %y 12 mm. *endon %eha$ior due to friction and progressi$e de%onding at a num%er of interfaces is $ery comple(. *he interpretation of the influence of friction at $arious interfaces and at locations points on the tendon can %e determined from load0e(tension plots. Marta" #1)-)& recorded that the magnitude of displacement measured during load reduction is hea$ily influenced %y frictional forces; the greater the friction the greater the e(hi%ited mo$ement and the lower the calculated elastic length. *hus, it is generally inappropriate to draw definiti$e conclusions from a mo$ement $alue or consider apparent tendon free length as more than a general acceptance criterion. Bor con$entional anchors, it is common practice to define performance %y esta%lishing the failure load. Eowe$er, there appears to %e differences in the definition of 1failure load2. Anchor %ond performance may only %e summari ed as an a$erage %ond stress %ecause %ond stress distri%ution is not 4uantified. 6either the $alues of ultimate %ond stress o$er the pea" load area #which may %e as high as -5/ "Pa&, nor the sliding friction %ond #which may %e as low as 1// "Pa& are determined. *his lac" of data leads ine$ita%ly to difficulty in the design of the su%se4uent production anchors with differing fi(ed lengths.

*ulti+le Anchor yste# *he multiple anchor system typically incorporates se$eral 1unit2 anchors in a single %orehole. Each of the unit anchors comprises its own tendon; typically with one, two or three prestressing strands. +t has its own designated fi(ed length in the %orehole o$er which it transfers load at the grout0soil interface and its own stressing ram #Bigure 1&. Each unit fi(ed length is designed to hold the same load #typically ,// to 1/// "6& %ased on the com%ination of soil properties and grouting techni4ues used. Each unit anchor is loaded simultaneously to Ma(imum *est 'oad to confirm satisfactory %eha$ior and compliance with specifications #Bigures 2 and >&. *he multiple anchor system can %e designed to e(ploit the load holding capacity of layered soils within the %ond one, as opposed to a single con$entional fi(ed length that tra$erses the entire %ond one and distri%utes the load inefficiently. Load Transfer Considerations. 8se of deformed indi$idual prestressing strand allows the full capacity of all the strands to %e transferred to the anchor grout or the encapsulation grout, o$er a fi(ed length of a%out 2 m. Bailure in anchors with shorter fi(ed lengths may occur due to pull out of the strand from the grout. *he use of shorter tendon %ond lengths with large physical deformations, such as an end plate, enhances the tendon to grout load transfer mechanism %ut generally su%!ects the grout column to high %ursting forces which cannot always %e contained %y the soil. Bailure %y %ursting of the grout column should also %e a$oided.

Figure ,- A si( unit test anchor at 6atche , Mississippi. Each 1unit2 anchor is stressed simultaneously %y its own stressing ram all coupled to a single hydraulic power pac".

Extension (mm) Figure &- A set of stressing results from a fi$e.unit multiple anchor #no failure&. Each unit anchor presents its own load e(tension gradient controlled %y its own de%onded tendon length #2.5 to ,.m unit fi(ed lengths, with 1=.m free lengths&.

Extension (mm) Figure .- Bor analysis each unit anchor load0e(tension graph is re$iewed indi$idually to assess unit anchor performance and esta%lish $alues of ultimate %ond stress of each unit where failure is induced.

*he shortest effecti$e tendon %ond and grout0soil fi(ed length of unit anchors is in the range of 2./ to 2.5 m. 3$er such a short fi(ed length, the grouted %ody containing the %onded tendon is considered to act as a monolithic %ody and the load transferred to the soil o$er this $ery short fi(ed length is considered to %e uniform. At failure, the e(hi%ited %ond stress $alue is assumed to %e e4ual to the ultimate %ond capacity #ult& attaina%le within that soil using the applied construction method. 3stermayer et al. #2//2& recommended that %ond stresses mo%ili ed at failure o$er longer fi(ed lengths of 2.> to 1/ m may %e considered as a$erage %ond stresses at failure #a$g&. Construction Techniques for Trial Anchors. *ypically, two multiple anchors are installed and tested to esta%lish ultimate %ond stresses of a num%er of 2.>.m unit fi(ed length distri%uted o$er say a 1,.m o$erall fi(ed anchor. *he shallower trial anchor may contain > unit anchors, each unit with > or , strands to ensure strand capacity e(ceeds the failure capacity of the grout0soil interface. *ypically each unit fi(ed length will assess the %ond capacity of a 2.>.m fi(ed length, the > units %eing located from / to -m in the o$erall anchor fi(ed length. *he deeper of the two trial anchors will also utilise > similar 2.>m unit %ond length and will determine the distri%ution of soil %ond capacity %etween -./ and 1,./m along the fi(ed length. Fithin the trial anchor %ore an inflata%le pac"er or a compressi%le pad wrapped around the tendon is sited at the top of the in$estigated fi(ed length in order to pre$ent load transfer into the grouted free length. Load Testing to Failure. 8nit anchors are loaded %y indi$idual hydraulic hollow rams that are coupled to the same hydraulic power pac" to ensure synchroni ed loading of all the unit anchors in the %ore hole. 'oad cycles, consistent with 8.7. or European Anchor Codes of Practice recommendations #P*+ or E6 15>-;2///&, are applied to the anchor. 'oad loss, creep characteristics, and load0e(tension data at cycle load ma(ima are recorded and plotted for each. During loading of a multiple anchor, failure of a unit anchor along the grout0soil interface unit anchor appears as a sharp change in gradient on the load0e(tension plot or a point at which load cannot %e maintained. 8pon recogni ing failure has occurred in one unit anchor, the hydraulic $al$e to the associated ram is loc"ed off. 7ynchroni ed loading of the remaining units then continues until all units ha$e e(hi%ited failure characteristics. All unit anchors are then unloaded to Alignment 'oad and mo$ements are recorded Bailure capacities of unit anchors must %e esta%lished from simultaneous unit anchor loading .Application of load to indi$idual units alone is in$alid since interaction %etween unit fi(ed lengths will e(ist. *ypically the testing as descri%ed ta"es a%out half a day, unless e(tended periods are re4uired for creep monitoring.

Data Provided. 7e$eral sets of the following data are pro$ided G one set from each unit anchor; 'oad0e(tension data Ma(imum *est 'oad sustained 'oad loss or creep mo$ement at each cycle ma(ima Progressi$e increase in apparent tendon free length with increase in load Mo$ement associated with each load cycle 8ltimate %ond stress at the grout to soil interface

Supple entary Data Provided by !ultiple Trial Anchors. *esting of multiple anchors pro$ides the following additional data; 8ltimate load of a 2.>.m fi(ed length at se$eral depths in the soil %ore 8ltimate grout0soil %ond stress at se$eral depths Bond stress distri%ution in a single or a $aried soil stratum 'oad holding or creep characteristics in indi$idual soil strata.

Barley and McBarron #1))-& presented typical data from a test anchor program in$ol$ing multiple anchors. Many $alues of ultimate %ond stress in differing strata allowed safe design and ensured that no failures were encountered in the ,5/ su%se4uent production anchors, each with $ery high design loads of 2/// "6 in compacted granular fills and $ery dense silt. Data fro prior trials. Hesearch wor" in$estigating the effect of fi(ed length on the capacity of anchors in a homogeneous stratum has %een conducted to allow the e$aluation of the efficiency of an anchor in mo%ili ing soil strength. *he Efficiency Bactor #feff& I a$erage %ond stress at failure for 2.>.m fi(ed anchor a$erage %ond stress at failure for longer fi(ed anchors

*he following empirical e4uation was de$eloped %ased on analysis of the data from this study; feff I 1.?'./.5- #where, ' I fi(ed length in meters& 8sing this efficiency factor and the e(tensi$e data pro$ided %y multiple anchor trials in differing strata, the capa%ility to design anchors with differing fi(ed lengths is greatly e(tended. Bor e(ample; +f a 2.>.m unit anchor in sandy clay e(hi%its an ultimate %ond stress of ,>/ "Pa, what fi(ed length should %e used for a con$entional anchor with a wor"ing load of >?/ "6, a factor of safety of 2.5, and a 2//.mm.diameter %oreholeJ Kult I ( D ( ' ( Lult ( feff #3stermayer et al., 2//2&

where,

Lult D ' Lult feff

I I I I I

ultimate load %orehole diameter anchor fi(ed length at grout0soil interface ultimate %ond stress at grout0soil interface efficiency factor

Bor ' I ? m feff I 1.? #? m&./.5- I /.5= Lult I ( /.2 m ( ? m ( ,>/ "Pa ( /.5= I ),/ "6 Bactor of 7afety I ),/0>?/ I 2.?1 Alternati$ely, a multiple anchor re4uires a wor"ing load of 1/// "6 and a factor of safety of 2.5. 8se , units each with a wor"ing load of 25/ "6, and lengths of > m #12 m total&; Bor ' I > m feff I 1.? #> m&./.5- I /.=? Lult I ( /.2 m ( > m ( ,>/ "Pa ( /.=? I ?)- "6 Bactor of 7afety I ?)-025/ I 2.-) u##ary A single con$entional trial anchor pro$ides ade4uate information to su%stantiate the design of a production anchor that uses the identical construction techni4ue in a particular soil stratum. Aalues of failure load and a$erage %ond stress at failure may %e esta%lished and these data may also %e considered appropriate to su%stantiate the design of anchors installed at separate locations in similar or identical soil conditions. *he installation and testing of one or two trial multiple anchors can pro$ide more e(tensi$e data, such as $alues of failure loads and ultimate %ond stress of se$eral unit anchors installed at $arious depths in the soil. 8nit anchors may %e in the same or in differing soil strata. *he information gained may %e used in con!unction with a design approach that ac"nowledges and 4uantifies the effect of progressi$e de%onding, which can pro$ide considera%le ad$ancement in the "nowledge, the understanding and the design capa%ilities for use in anchor technology.

/eferences Barley A.D., and P. McBarron. #1))-&. 1Bield *rials on Bour Eigh Capacity Hemo$a%le Multiple Anchors Bounded in Marine 7and Bill and in Completely Decomposed Mranite.2 +CE Conference and Anchored 7tructures, *homas *elford, 'ondon, March. E615>-;2///. #2///&. Euronorm for ground anchors. Marta", '. #1)-)&. 1*he friction calculation in fi(ing the load of pre.stressed anchors with free tendon length.2 Proceedings, -th European Conference of 7oil Mechanics and Boundation Engineering, Brighton, England, pp. 2/5.21,. 3stermayer, E. #1)-,&. 1Construction, Carrying Beha$iour and Creep Characteristics of Mround Anchors2. +CE Conference on Diaphragm Falls and Anchorages, 'ondon. 3stermayer, E. et al. #2//2&. 1Mround Anchors2 Geotechnical Engineering Handbook, Aolume 2, Procedures pu%lished %y Ernst and 7ohn. Post *ensioning +nstitute #P*+&. #2//,&. 1Hecommendations for prestressed roc" and soil anchors.2 Bourth Edition, Birst Printing, Phoeni(, Ari ona. )= p.