[TowerTalk] Base equivalent

[Jim Lux]

On 1/10/14 1:28 PM, Mike Reublin NF4L wrote:
> The specs for my crank up call for a hole 4x4x7.5 feet. That works out to 4.4 yds of concrete. The smaller backhoes that I can get to the site can go to a depth of 6 feet. Because of the water table, I consider it an unacceptable risk to put a man in the hole to dig out to 7.5 feet deep.
>
> A hole 5x5x6 is 5.5 yds.
>
> Would that be a safe equivalent to hold the tower up with the same wind load?
>

I just thought of a better analogy than my straw in a milkshake one..

For a freestanding tower, the base is more about resisting movement, not 
so much bulk and mass.

Compare a tootsie-pop and a long thin peppermint stick, each shoved 
half-way into some stiff pudding or cake.  The tootsie-pop is heavier, 
but it's round and there's not much resistance to tipping the stick 
over.  The peppermint stick might be the same weight (in the "soil"), 
but is harder to push over.