Simulation and interpretation of ground anchor failures from acoustic monitoring test

Abstract. This article discusses a real-time acoustic monitoring technique newly used for ground anchors and the analysis of the anchor failure via data interpretation. For assessment of this method, in-situ pullout load tests were conducted on two prestressed anchors. An one-dimensional analytical model was established to model the anchor’s behaviors. With the use of attenuation law for the wave signals progagting along the concrete panel, the failure signals were found comparable to the field data and the 2D/3D finite element modeling using ABAQUS. It was found that the analytical model could capture closely the progressive failures of the ground anchor with rational controls of strength parameters of the materials. The pules signals triggered by different failures and those appearing on the concrete wall are able to be monitored. The proposed model thus provides successfully an efficient solution to monitor the ground anchor failures.