Let’s now focus on some of the major advantages of using a Platipus percussion driven anchor system versus a drilled and grouted soil nail solution.
One of the key objectives of using Platipus is to achieve speed of installation. Temporary works solutions quite often fall along the critical path of a project and it is essential that they are constructed quickly and with minimum delay. The Platipus percussion driven earth anchor is designed to be installed quickly with locally resourced plant and equipment and by a competent contractor or sub-contractor who has been through a Platipus installer and training induction program.
One of the major advantages of the Platipus system is that the anchor head is driven and load locked deep into the stable insitu soil zone. This relies on bearing capacity theory from a dead-man anchor solution versus skin friction along a tendon bar for a traditional drilled and grouted soil nail. As soon as the Platipus anchor has been installed it is instantly load locked and load verified and ready for service.
There is no time delay or waiting around for days for grouting measures to cure and with the uncertainty of load achievement. Every single Platipus anchor is, and should be, immediately load locked and tested once driven to the required soil depths with this information immediately available for the Design Engineer to review. With this information and certainty, this allows the Engineer to quite often risk manage and incorporate reduced Factors of Safety in the design.
Let’s not forget the reduced environmental impact a ‘dry’ Platipus solution can provide. With drilling and grouting soil nails, initial drill holes are quite often required that require slurry lubrication and finally grout is pumped into the holes. Both these process’s result in potential contamination of soil and close proximity waterways which can be an environmental hazard.
The single biggest advantage that contractors have reported to us of using the Platipus system is its ‘buildability’ or ‘constructability’ and the ability or flexibility of being able to easily switch ‘on and off’ a small Platipus installation team which provides their project with a safe temporary works solution, on time and at a relatively reduced cost saving to traditional solutions.