Cable Anchors: A prestressed cable anchor is a high strength steel tendon, fitted with a

stressing anchorage at one end and a means permitting force transfer to the grout and rock
on the other end. The anchor tendon is inserted into a prepared hole of suitable length and
diameter, fixed to the rock and prestressed to a specified force. The anchors shall be
installed at the required inclination and to the required depth to resist the applied load in
an efficient manner so that the tendon material is stressed to permissible levels and the
rock in which it is embedded is also realistically stressed. The tensile force introduced
through anchor system should maintain necessary equilibrium between the anchor, the
structure to which it is attached and the rock in which the anchor is embedded so that the
movements of the structure and the surrounding rock mass are kept to acceptable levels.
The tendon is usually a high strength steel member (bar, wire or strand) surrounded by
cement grout or other fixing agent. This tendon has to be protected against corrosion
effects, otherwise the basic purpose of transferring the tensile force to ground will get
defeated.
The basic components of prestressed cable anchor tendons are the following:
i) Prestressing member which may be one of these
- single wire or a number of wires
- strands

The total length of the prestressing tendon is composed of two parts:

- Fixed anchor length (also known as Bond length) :- The portion of tendon
where tensile force from anchor is transmitted into the ground/surrounding rock
through the bond between prestressing steel & grout and the grout &
surrounding rock/soil. It is also called bonded length.
- Free anchor length (also known as Stressing length):- the portion of tendon
which can be elastically elongated and during elongation tendon is not in
contact with surrounding rock. This is also called the unbounded length. The
free anchor length is upper portion from structure to top of the fixed anchor
length over which no tensile force is transmitted to the surrounding rock. This
achieved by placing frictionless sleeves around the tendon. These sleeves also
act as corrosion protection in the free anchor length. To guarantee a free
elongation this length should not be smaller than 5 m (IS:10270).
ii) A stressing anchorage is a device which permits the stressing and anchoring of the
prestressing steel under load.
 iii) A fixed anchor is at the opposite end of the tendon than the stressing anchor and is
a mechanism which permits the transfer of induced force to the surrounding grout.
iv) Grout and vent pipes and miscellaneous appurtenances required for injecting the
anchor grout or corrosion protective filler.

FIGURE 3: TYPICAL DETAILS OF PRESSTRESSED ROCK ANCHOR (IS:

10270)
5.1.1 Design of Cable Anchors (100 ton)
Design of cable anchors at RHEP Power House area involved the following computations:
i) Planar wedge analysis to determine the improvement in factor of safety by
introducing 100 ton capacity cable anchors.
ii) Determination of number of strands/wires for 100 ton cable anchor.
iii) Determination of free length of anchor.
iv) Determination of fixed length of anchor.
v) Design of RCC wall/pad for 100 ton cable anchors.
i) Planar Wedge Analysis: This analysis was performed at EL.902.00 and EL.923.00. As
mentioned earlier, the slopes above these elevations have already been stabilized by means
of rock anchors and shotcrete with wire mesh (refer Annex-III). In order to provide long term
 stability and as advised by World Bank experts, two rows of 100 ton capacity cable anchors
are proposed at these levels.

The analysis has been performed neglecting the contribution of existing rock anchors and other
support measures. Overall factor of safety for the slope is greatly improved by providing cable
anchors.

Details of analysis are covered in Annex-X.

ii) Determination of number of strands/wires required for 100 ton cable anchor

Capacity of cable anchors = 100 ton

Long term losses (assumed) = 9 % of lock-off load

Lock-off load/ultimate tendon force = 60%

Ultimate capacity of anchor required = 1000

= 1831.50 KN
(0.91 0.60)

Considering a tendon having 10 strands consisting of seven wires conforming to Class 2

having designation as “12.7 mm-7 ply”. (Refer IS:6006)

Nominal diameter of strand = 12.7 mm

No. of strands = 10

Tolerance on nominal diameter of strand = + 0.66 mm (Refer IS:6006)

-0.15 mm

Nominal cross section of strand = 98.7 mm2 (Refer IS:6006)

Nominal mass of strand = 0.775 Kg/m (Refer IS:6006)

Breaking load(min) (per strand) = 183.7 KN (18.73 tons) (Refer IS:6006)

0.2 percent Proof load (per strand) or = 156.1 KN (15.91 tons) (Refer IS:6006)
yield point load
 Breaking load (min) for 10 strands = 1837 KN (187.3 tons)

0.2 percent Proof load (for 10 strands) or = 1561 KN (159.1 tons)

yield point load

iii)Determination of free length of anchor of 100 ton cable anchor

The rock adjacent to an anchorage must have sufficient resistance to withstand the bursting
forces generated by the stressing of the anchorage. For large anchor loads in rock, care is
necessary in the selection of the anchor depth to ensure that failure does not occur in rock mass.
Anchors may function in isolation or in groups. Both cases shall be considered to determine
anchor depth. Commonly it is assumed that an anchorage mobilizes the resistance of a conical
or wedge-shaped body of material surrounding it. Over the years many approaches have been
devised to prevent failure within the rock and the most common is to consider an inverted cone
of rock to be pulled out as shown in Figure.4

FIGURE 4: THEORETICAL CONE OF ROCK PULLED OUT BY ANCHOR

Location of the base of cone has been selected from top of the fixed anchor. For the design
purpose the free length may be taken from ground surface to top position of fixed anchor
length to remain on safer side. The occurrence of intact and homogeneous rocks is rare.
Rocks in general are jointed and fractured and it is for this reason that use of the cone
method requires rock mechanics experience and realistic factors of safety. Very high shear
strength exists in homogeneous rocks, while in fissured and altered rocks the strengths are
 relatively low. For the estimation of anchor depth (free anchor length), rock shear strength
has been considered in homogeneous material but neglected in the fissured rocks as shown
in expression in Table 4.1. in case anchor spacing is less, then cones interact as shown in
Figure.5 and the anchor embedment depth estimation for different type of rocks is given
in Table.4.2.

Table 4.1: Empirical method of determining anchor embedment depth in rock using
the cone method.

Type of Rock Depth of cone

Homogeneous F .P
4.4

Irregular fissured F .P
3
 tan 

Irregular fissured and submerged F .P

3
  1  tan 

Where

τ= Rock shear strength

F = Factor of safety (2 to 3)

Φ = Angle of friction across fractures in rock

γ = Unit weight of rock

P = Anchor load
 FIGURE 5: INTERACTION OF THEORETICAL FAILURE CONES FROM TWO
ADJACENT ANCHORS.

Table 4.2: Empirical method of determining anchor embedment depth in rock using the
cone method-group of anchors.

Type of Rock Depth of cone

Homogeneous F .P
2.8 s

Irregular fissured F .P
 s tan 

Irregular fissured and submerged F .P

  1 s tan 

s = spacing of anchors

Minimum free length computation of 100 ton cable anchors

Spacing of anchors = 2.5 m

Unit weight of rock = 2.65 t/m3

 Angle of friction across fractures in rock = 34 degrees

Factor of safety = 3

Considering irregular fissured and submerged rock

Minimum free length = 3 100

= 10.54 m < 15 m
 2.65  1 2.5  tan 34
(OK)

iv) Determination of minimum fixed length for 100 ton cable anchor

The anchor load P is given by

P = π.d.L.τ

Where L = fixed length considering a cylindrical borehole

d = Diameter of borehole

τ = average working bond stress.

Anchor load = 100 tons = 100000 KG

Diameter of borehole = 110 mm = 11 cm

Average working bond stress = 5 kgf/cm2

100000
Hence fixed length (L) = = 578.7 cm = 5.78 m < 6.5 m (OK)
  11 5

It should however be noted that the actual fixed length values are ascertained at site by
means of core testing of rock and pull out tests of rock anchors.

v) Design of RCC wall/pad for 100 ton cable anchors

RCC wall/pad for 100 ton cable anchors is designed as a combined footing for loading from
anchors. Equivalent section of column is derived from the diameter of the anchor.
Loading from three number anchors are taken on the RCC wall for analysis and design.
 FIGURE 6: RCC WALL CONSIDERED FOR DESIGN WITH EQUIVALENT
COLUMNS.

Load from column A = 1000 KN

Load from column B = 1000 KN

Load from column C = 1000 KN

Factored Load from column A = 1500 KN

Factored Load from column B = 1500 KN

Factored Load from column C = 1500 KN

Grade of concrete = M:20

Size of steel base plate

Length = 600 mm

Breadth = 600 mm

Size (dia.) of cable anchor = 110 mm

Equivalent size of column

where “a” is the size of section equivalent to

dia of anchor
= a2 + a2 = 1102

= 2a2 = 1102

1102
=a= = 77.782 mm = 78 mm (say)
2

Size of equivalent column “x” = (600-78/2)x2+78 = 339 mm

Designing the wall as RCC footing with an equivalent column of size = 339mmx339mm

C/C distance from edge = 1.25 m

C/C distance between columns = 2.50 m

Length of footing = 7.50 m

Total load on rock = 1500+1500+1500 = 4500 KN

Bearing capacity = 500 KN/m2

Footing width required = 4500

= 1.20 m
7.5  500

Footing width provided = 2m

Net upward pressure = 4500

= 300 KN/m2
7.5  2

Net upward pressure/m = 300x2 = 600 KN/m

Max. Shear force at c/l of col. A

V1 = 600  2.5
= -750 KN
2

-750+1500 = 750 KN
V2 =

Max. Shear force at c/l of col. B

V1 = 1500-600x(1.25+2.5) = -750 KN

V2 = -750+1500 = 750 KN

Max. Shear force at c/l of col. B

V1 = 750-600x2.5 = -750 KN

V2 = -750+1500 = 750 KN

Point of zero shear force from center of col. A = 1.25 m

SHEAR FORCE DIAGRAM

 BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAM

Reinforcement calculation

Max. B.M computed from left side = 600x1.252/2 = 468.75 KNm

Breadth of section = 2000 mm

Required depth = 468.75 106

= 291.41 mm
2.76  2000

Depth provided = 700 mm

Effective depth “d” = 650 mm

%age of reinforcement required =  (4.6  468.75 106 )  20  50

 1  1  2 

 (2.76  2000  650 )  415

= 0.159 %

Area of steel required = 0.159  650  200

=2225.51 mm2
100

Diameter of bars used = 25 mm

Spacing of bars required = 252   2000

= 441.19 mm
4  2225.51

Spacing of bars provided = 200 mm c/c

Provided reinforcement = 20 diameter bars @ 200 mm c/c

Area of steel provided = 252   2000
= 4909.375 mm2
4  200

%age of steel provided = 4909.375 100

= 0.38 %
650  2000

Allowable shear stress for 0.38 % steel (τc) = 0.42 N/mm2 (Table:19, IS-456)

Critical sections for shear force

One way shear at distance d from column =  339 

  650 
face  2  = 0.82 m
1000

Shear (one way action at col.B) Vu = 0.25  20 = 258.30 KN

Shear stress

τv = 258.30 103
= 0.20 N/mm2
650  2000

0.42 N/mm2 > 0.20 N/mm2

τc =
No shear reinf. is required.

Two way shear at distance d/2 from = (339-650)/2 = 0.4945 m

column face

Shear (two way action at col.B) = 750x(1.25-0.4945)/1.25 = 453.3 KN

Nominal shear stress = 453.3 103

= 0.179 N/mm2
(4  (339  650))  650

τc'= ks τc

Where

ks = 0.5+βc

βc = 1
 ks = 0.5+1 = 1.50

ks cannot be greater than 1.

Hence, ks = 1

τc = 0.25  20 = 1.12 N/mm2

τc' = 1x1.12 = 1.12 N/mm2 > 0.179 N/mm2

OK in two way shear