Percussion Earth Anchors

Percussion Earth Anchors have the potential to secure all types of Erosion Control products on Steep Slopes, to replace traditional soil nails for Landslip Remediation and to secure erosion products in severely adverse situations such as Coastal, Riverine and Inland Waterways Banks. Percussion Earth Anchors are in many cases faster to install and cheaper on a supply and install basis than traditional alternatives. This paper introduces this emerging technology to Erosion Control Practitioners and gives guidance to their use.

Full Abstract: Percussion Earth Anchors represent disruptive technology that has the promise to achieve outstanding results for the Commonwealth, the ultimate taxpayer and user of our Engineered Systems. Modern Percussion Earth anchors have many uses ranging from small applications to large Geotechnical installations. These include the following.

1. Hold down anchors against tornado, wind, flood and vandal loads.
2. Landslip remediation.
3. MSE (Mechanically Stabilized Earth) retaining walls.
4. Securing Erosion Control products on steep slopes including Jute products. Coir products, plastic erosion control mats, turf reinforcement mats, cellular confinement systems, concrete on a roll, concrete nodule products, gabions and reno mattresses, coastal and riverine erosion products and rockfall netting.
5. Securing similar products noted in 4. above in the invert and side slopes of swale drains.
6. Agricultural applications such as vine trellises and stone fruit netting.
7. Shade structures, tensile structures and hail damage netting.
8. Sheet Pile Walls especially vinyl sheet pile walls.
9. Underwater applications including securing floating pontoons and mooring of yachts.
10. Electricity transmission and distribution power lines.
11. Radio and cell phone towers.

The use of Percussion Earth Anchors is in most cases faster to install and cheaper on a supply and install basis than traditional alternatives.

This paper gives hands on experience with Percussion Earth Anchors, using both wire rope and solid bar, and discusses all of the above applications especially as they pertain to Erosion Control Practice. Finally, corrosion issues, which must be addressed whenever metals are placed in the ground, are discussed.