[TowerTalk] Guy Anchor Failure

Logan Dietz cdietz@swbell.net
Tue, 02 Jan 2001 10:47:48 -0600


I use 6" screw anchors with 10 foot guy posts... I have had huge trees
fall across the guy wires and put a tremendous strain on the, but never
had one budge.

Chuck, W5PR

n4kg@juno.com wrote:

> This is scarry !
>
> ALL of my 7 towers are guyed to screw anchors.
> The taller ones (95, 130, 135 ft) use two anchors
> in each direction with the first anchor spaced 60 ft
> and holding guys at 30 and 60 ft.  The second anchor
> is typically spaced 95 ft for the upper one or two sets
> of guys.
>
> Fortunately, they have held up through a small
> tornado 6 years ago and estimated 70 mph winds
> this past summer so I  *assume* they are still sound
> but it would be nice to have a better way of knowing!
>
> Some of my early anchors are heavy duty (painted)
> mobile home anchors (20 years and counting) and
> the newer ones are galvanized.
>
> I went ahead and used screw anchors because they
> are relatively easy to install (after it rains) and I had
> heard a second hand report that WA4SSU had tested
> a screw anchor in Georgia Clay by hooking a crane
> to it and crane off it's back supports.  (Makes a good
> story anyway).  Alabama clay gets as hard as brick
> in summer.
>
> Anchor ROD deterioration is a problem for BOTH
> screw in anchors and concrete anchors.  Screw in
> anchors have the additional risks of having more
> exposed shaft underground and the integrity of
> of the plate weld at the bottom.
>
> SO....any ideas on how to test the integrity of
> long term anchors in the ground?
>
> de  Tom  N4KG
>
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