Trivia Tuesday, March 17

Last week's answer

Question: In heavy civil construction, especially when building retaining walls or bulkheads for roadway embankments, contractors often use a Deadman Anchor. What is a "Deadman" in a construction set of plans?

Answer: A heavy weight buried in the ground to provide leverage for a tieback

Retaining walls and bulkheads are tied back to a Deadman Anchor that is embedded several feet into the ground and at least 10 feet behind the structure. The anchor supports the retaining wall's ability to withstand the weight of the soil behind it. A Deadman Anchor is made up of a concrete block with one or more tie rods. The ties run horizontally through the ground to connect the concrete block to the back of the retaining wall. Once construction is complete, the anchor is unnoticeable as it sits below the surface. 

Source: Dalinghaus Construction