Field study on behavior of load distributive compression anchor installed in weathered rock and soft rock

Abstract

As a load distributive compression anchor (LDCA) consists of multiple anchor bodies and unbonded tendons, the load applied to the tendon is transmitted to grout and ground by the movement of each anchor body installed along the anchor length. Therefore, the load transfer behavior of LDCA is affected by the interference between adjacent anchor body, and the effect of multiple anchor bodies should be considered in the LDCA design. This study performed a series of pull-out field tests on LDCAs installed in soft rock. LDCAs were designed to have various number and spacing of anchor bodies to investigate the effect of multiple anchor bodies. Furthermore, the test results were compared with the results of pull-out field tests conducted on weathered rock to examine the effect of ground conditions. The load-displacement relationship showed that the grout failure occurred in the LDCA installed in soft rock, and thus the ultimate bearing capacity was smaller than that of the LDCA installed in weathered rock. Additionally, the grout axial load distribution indicated that the LDCA installed in soft rock expressed tensile stress in the grout due to the effect of multiple anchor bodies leading to the tensile failure on the grout.