Definition

Ground anchors (both temporary and permanent) are a technically and economically competitive solution, because they facilitate the process of bracing and reduce the execution time of the works, providing a high level of security thanks to the technical development experienced in recent decades. Ground anchors are principally designed to absorb tensile forces. To perform this task, the anchors are divided into four parts:

• The bulb: transmits traction to the ground via its shaft that induce tension.
• The free extension zone: situated between the anchorage zone and the head of the anchor, and where no forces are transmitted to the surrounding ground allowing the bulb to be situated in stable ground levels, outside of areas of slippage.
• The anchor head: that connects the structure (mainly diaphragm walls) and must fully absorb the tension of the reinforcement.
• Anchor reinforcement: transmits the tension from the head to the bulb, passing through the free extension zone.

Some of the applications of ground anchors are as follows:

• Bracing of retaining structures.
• Diaphragm walls.
• Curtain walls of piles.
• Walls constructed by foundation trench in descending phases.
• Micropile walls.
• Sheath piling.
• Stabilisation of slopes.
• Sewing of fissured rock masses with slippage problems.
• Absorption of tension within the structure caused by uplift.