Ground Anchor Loads Measured on an Excavation Sheet Pile Wall

Results of ground anchors load measurement are presented. A 7.5-m-deep excavation was carried out for a 2-level basement building in Poland. A sheet pile wall with one level of ground anchors was designed to ensure the excavation stability. A number of anchors were equipped with vibrating wire load cells. The loads were measured at two locations with 3 anchors instrumented at each location. At one of the locations, intensive site traffic was observed. At the other location, the area behind the wall was operated by building equipment. The differences in soil conditions at both points were moderate. The anchor loads were relatively constant during the anchor life and only slight dependence on the excavation depth and site operations behind the wall was observed. The anchor forces at the site were primarily the effect of the lock-off load. Soil conditions, excavation depth, and traffic impact are secondary and they induce anchor load variation by ca 20%.