Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are essential for managing changes in ground elevation and supporting earth in infrastructure, highway, rail, and civil engineering projects. Over time, these structures may suffer from movement, sliding, or rotational failure. In such cases, Vulcan Earth Anchors offer a reliable and cost-effective alternative to full wall reconstruction. Ground anchors can be used to stabilise existing walls or integrated into new builds to reduce the amount of required reinforcement and concrete.
Whether dealing with failing masonry, timber crib, or concrete walls, anchoring systems restore structural integrity quickly and with minimal disruption. This method not only reduces construction time and environmental impact but also extends the service life of retaining structures.
Why This Application Matters
Retaining wall failure can pose serious risks to infrastructure and public safety. Traditional solutions—such as complete demolition and rebuild—are time-consuming, expensive, and highly disruptive.
Using Vulcan Earth Anchors allows engineers to strengthen existing retaining walls without removing or rebuilding them. This reduces material usage, shortens construction programmes, and lowers overall carbon output. In new wall construction, anchors help accommodate horizontal forces, allowing for lighter wall designs with less concrete and reinforcement steel.
Applications span highways, rail corridors, utility works, and embankments—anywhere lateral earth pressure must be resisted efficiently and safely.
Why Use Vulcan Earth Anchors?
Offers a cost-effective alternative to wall replacement or over-engineered new builds
Enables faster installation with shorter construction programmes and no curing time
Achieves design lives of up to 120 years with appropriate material selection
Reduces environmental impact through lower material usage and minimal ground disturbance
Suitable for retrofit and new construction, adapting to site-specific load and soil requirements
Can be installed using handheld tools or small excavators, depending on access constraints
How Our Products Are Used for This Application
Retrofitting Failing Retaining Walls
When stabilising existing walls, holes are cored through the structure and Vulcan Earth Anchors are driven into the retained soil behind. The anchor is then load-locked and tensioned, securing the wall against further movement.
This solution is ideal for:
Masonry retaining walls
Timber crib walls
Concrete retaining structures
Installation is guided by a site-specific design assessment, considering the wall type, retained height, and soil conditions. Anchors are typically installed using a handheld breaker or a wheeled or tracked excavator fitted with a breaker.
We provide full training on installation methods and hire out the necessary tools to ensure safe and correct application.
Integrating Anchors into New Walls
For new-build walls, Vulcan Anchors can be designed into the structure from the outset. Anchors are installed behind the wall to resist lateral loads, reducing the amount of steel and concrete needed.
During construction, ducts can be introduced to simplify anchor placement and reduce on-site installation time. This method is ideal for projects where structural efficiency, cost savings, and lower embodied carbon are key objectives.
Design Considerations
When specifying Vulcan Earth Anchors for retaining walls, several key factors must be taken into account to ensure safe, long-term performance:
Load Requirements: Anchors must resist lateral earth pressure, surcharge loads, and any additional forces acting on the wall.
Soil Conditions: Anchor size and depth are based on soil type, strength, and density. Poorer soils may require deeper embedment or larger heads.
Anchor Depth & Angle: Installation depth and angle (typically 15°–45°) affect load capacity and must suit the wall design and available space.
Wall Type: Different wall systems (e.g. gabion, sheet pile, reinforced earth) require different fixing methods and access behind the wall.
Drainage: Proper water management is essential. Hydrostatic pressure can impact wall stability and anchor performance.
Design Life & Protection: Corrosion protection (e.g. galvanising or encapsulation) should match the project’s intended lifespan and environmental exposure.
Which Products Are Used for This Application
The Vulcan Earth Anchor is available in a wide range of head sizes to suit different retaining wall designs, load requirements, and ground conditions. Each anchor is selected based on site-specific factors such as soil type, anchor depth, and the forces the retaining wall is expected to resist.
Below are common anchor head sizes used in retaining wall applications:
AS-01 – AS-50: Suitable for light-duty retaining walls in firm ground conditions, where moderate holding capacities are required.
AS-120 – AS-200: The most commonly used anchors for mid-sized walls in rail, highway, and civil engineering projects.
AS-300 – AS-400: Designed for heavy-duty retaining structures, including tall embankments, deep cuttings, or areas with weak or loose soils.
Common Applications We Support
Retaining walls come in many forms, each designed to meet different site conditions, loading requirements, and construction methods. Anchor Systems International provides anchoring solutions suitable for a wide range of wall types, including:
Gravity Walls: Built using heavy materials like concrete or stone, gravity walls rely on their mass to resist pressure from behind. Our anchors can enhance their stability, especially where ground conditions are less than ideal.
Gabion Walls: Constructed from stacked wire baskets filled with rocks, gabion walls are popular in erosion control and landscaping. Vulcan Earth Anchors are frequently used to stabilise gabion structures against sliding or overturning forces.
Sheet Pile Walls: Thin, interlocking steel, vinyl, or timber sheets are driven into the ground to retain soil. Our ground anchors can provide additional tie-back support to sheet piles, reducing movement and increasing overall wall stability.
Reinforced Earth (Geotextile) Walls: Using layers of geogrids or geotextiles combined with compacted soil, these flexible walls are highly effective for steep slopes and embankments. Our anchoring systems can be integrated to provide additional support and load resistance.
Cantilevered Walls: Often made of reinforced concrete, cantilevered walls use a slab at the base to leverage resistance. Ground anchors can be used to supplement their performance, particularly in high-load or difficult soil conditions.
Crib Walls: Timber or precast concrete frames are filled with crushed stone or soil. Ground anchors help to stabilise crib walls on slopes or in areas susceptible to ground movement.
Whatever the wall type or site challenge, we have an anchoring solution to ensure its stability and performance over the long term.
FAQs
01
How do I know which size Vulcan Earth Anchor to use for my retaining wall project?
Anchor size is determined by factors such as wall height, soil type, design load, and site access. Our technical team can review your project details and soil data to recommend the most appropriate Vulcan anchor for your requirements.
02
Can Vulcan Earth Anchors be used on existing retaining walls?
Yes. Vulcan Earth Anchors are ideal for both new builds and retrofit stabilisation of existing walls. They can be installed with minimal disruption and are especially effective where traditional repair methods would be time-consuming or costly.
03
What soil types are Vulcan Earth Anchors suitable for?
Vulcan anchors work across a wide range of soils — from dense gravels and stiff clays to softer fills. Anchor size and depth will be adjusted based on ground conditions to achieve the required holding capacity. We can help interpret site investigation data and specify accordingly.
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Get to know more about the product
The Vulcan Earth Anchor range was designed and developed by Anchor Systems (International) Ltd to provide a simple, reliable, and cost-effective ground anchoring solution for a wide variety of applications.
Our brochure includes detailed product information, performance data, installation guidance, and examples of real-world uses across multiple sectors.
If you require technical specifications or design advice for your specific project, please get in touch with our team.
Experts in innovative foundation systems
From rail and highways to solar farms and temporary structures, Anchor Systems deliver engineered ground anchoring and foundation solutions that simplify installation and reduce environmental impact.
Zero concrete, zero waiting time
Easy installation with hand-held or hydraulic tools
Reusable, relocatable, and sustainable
Designed, tested, and manufactured in the UK