First application of a totally protected anchorage

This paper describes the first experimental application of a new anchoring system thoroughly protected against dangers connected with fissuring and corrosion of the steel rods.This anchorage is similar to the type of anchors with a compressed bulb.The grouted bulb placing technology Is the same as used in the well known IRP system, i.e., with repeated high pressure grouting.Each rod is protected, along its entire length, by a plastic sheath down to a bottom plate on which each anchor is fixed. The steel bottom plate itself is embedded in epoxy resin mortar.In this way even If some fissures develop In the stressed grouted bulb, no point is left open to attack by corrosion, the steel being entirely protected by the plastic sheath of epoxy resins.This paper reports the results of prototypes In rock, and in soft alluvial soils.The tests in a soft soil were carried out with instrumentation detecting distribution of the transferred loads to the soil. These distributions have been compared to those of two traditional IRP anchors built In the same soil.