[TowerTalk] anchor failure from corrosion?

[Eric Scace K3NA]

I saw this happen on a tower where the anchor did not have a forged eye, but terminated in a threaded section.  A forged eye had
been attached with a threaded coupling.  The coupling was pinned in place with a cotter pin to prevent the eye from rotating off the
anchor rod.

Unfortunately the cotter pin corroded and the galvanizing began sacrificing itself.  Eventually the rod rusted through.  Fortunately
this was a lightly loaded tower in a sheltered location of relatively short height (compared to the tower's inherent sturdiness).
Furthermore, each guy level was independently anchored.  No damage was done when one of the anchor rods separated below grade one
day and the guy became slack.  All the anchors were quickly replaced.

-- Eric K3NA

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Tom Frenaye
Sent: 2003 April 29 Tuesday 01:25
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] anchor failure from corrosion?



I hadn't ever heard of guy anchors on ham radio towers failing because of corrosion  I'm wondering if it's something all of us need
to worry about - anyone with firsthand experience?

                -- Tom


>  HELPFUL ADVICE ON GUY ANCHOR INSPECTIONS (CGC #570)
>
>  Over the years there have been numerous instances of towers
>falling due to guy anchor failure, with guy wires hanging on to
>as little as 1/4" of remaining shaft before failure.
>
>  As a Tower Safety and Rescue trainer for our company, I have
>taken trainees to a guyed tower to see the "point of daylight."
>This is where the guy anchor meets the dirt, and is the most
>likely place to reveal corrosion just below the surface, as shown
>in the diagram of CGC #570.  Dig down about 6-12 inches and you
>may likely find the beginnings of corrosion.  This inspection
>should be performed regularly if you own a guyed tower.
>
>  The best way to prevent or delay the corrosion process is
>through the use of a "Sacrificial Anode" - or Cathodic Protection.
>You can see the process of corrosion and how it can be prevented
>in these instructional animations courtesy of www.anchorguard.com:
>
>  Corrosion: http://www.anchorguard.com/images/Corrosion.gif
>  Protection: http://www.anchorguard.com/images/protection.gif
>
>  Timothy H. Lynch, mailto:tlynch at w-t-s.com
>  Western Technical Services

>                      THE CGC COMMUNICATOR
>                            CGC #572
>                    Tuesday,  April 29, 2003
>                             ________
>
>               Robert F. Gonsett, W6VR, Publisher
>                       <rgonsett at ieee.org>
>
>           Stephen H. Blodgett, W7RNA, Letters Editor
>                  mailto:steve at earthsignals.com
>
>    Copyright 2003, Communications General® Corporation (CGC)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
e-mail: frenaye at pcnet.com    YCCC --> http://www.yccc.org/
Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444



_______________________________________________

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