[TowerTalk] Guy Anchor Failure

[n4kg@juno.com]

N4KG responses inserted below.

On Mon, 01 Jan 2001  Pete Smith <n4zr@contesting.com> writes:

> At 06:09 PM 1/1/01 -0500, Jerry Keller wrote:

> >Which is better,,,,,concrete guy anchors.... or....screw anchors?  
> 
> Screw anchors are a lot more dependent on specific soil 
> characteristics than concrete anchors.  As an example, 
> the concrete anchors on my tower weight about ~1800 lb each, 
> and get the remainder of their anchoring  power from the weight 
> of soil above them.  Screw anchors weigh what --  maybe 50
> lb each?
	
	I suspect that much (most?) of the "holding power" 
	of the earth is not from the weight but from the 
	'cohesion' of the earth.  Loose dirt could weigh
	as much as undisturbed (compacted) earth but
	would have little or NO 'cohesion'.  K5RC once
	lost a tower when an anchor (cased in concrete)
	pulled through 'soupy' earth after sustained rains.
	For small anchors, the surface area and depth is 
	more significant than the weight.  (I agree that 
	Pete's 1800 lb anchors are pretty substantial)
	de N4KG

> 
> Of course, none of this is protection against a failure if the 
> anchor rod corrodes to the breaking point.

	AMEN ! - N4KG
> 
> 73, Pete N4ZR

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