Ground anchor

Glass greenhouses, as high-precision agricultural facilities, have extremely high requirements for structural stability. Ground anchors are key components in ensuring they can withstand strong winds, snow accumulation, and other external forces.

Keyword:

Ground anchor

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Classification:

Glass greenhouse accessories

Technical documentation:

chenwei@tkoisteel.com

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Details Introduction

Glass greenhouses, as high-precision agricultural facilities, require extremely high structural stability. Ground anchors are crucial components for ensuring they can withstand strong winds, snow accumulation, and other external forces. The following provides a detailed introduction to glass greenhouse ground anchors, including their function, type selection, construction points, and maintenance.

I. Core Functions of Glass Greenhouse Ground Anchors

Wind Resistance
Glass greenhouses have a large surface area and are easily impacted by strong winds. Ground anchors connect to the greenhouse frame (such as columns and trusses), transferring the horizontal thrust generated by wind force underground to prevent the greenhouse from tilting or being overturned.
Snow Load Resistance
Snow accumulation in winter can exert vertical pressure on the greenhouse roof. Ground anchors can help secure the foundation, preventing the greenhouse from deforming its frame or breaking glass due to uneven settlement.
Foundation Reinforcement
In areas with loose soil or strong winds, ground anchors can enhance the connection strength between the greenhouse foundation and the ground, reducing settlement or displacement during long-term use.

II. Types and Applicable Scenarios of Glass Greenhouse Ground Anchors

Based on greenhouse size, geological conditions (soil type, groundwater level), and local climate, common types are as follows:

Ground Anchor Type	Structural Characteristics	Applicable Scenarios	Advantages
Helical Ground Anchor	Consists of helical blades (diameter 10-30cm) and a steel rod, mechanically screwed into the ground, with a connecting ring at the top.	Small and medium-sized glass greenhouses, areas with clay or sandy loam soil, and low groundwater levels.	Quick installation (no excavation required), recyclable and reusable, low cost.
Concrete Ground Anchor	Precast concrete blocks (or cast in situ), with built-in steel reinforcement connectors, buried 1-2m deep, relying on self-weight and soil frictional force for support.	Large glass greenhouses, high wind loads (such as coastal areas), and areas with poor soil bearing capacity (such as soft soil).	Strong load-bearing capacity, high durability, suitable for long-term fixation.
Plate Ground Anchor	Steel plate (thickness 8-12mm) welded to a steel rod, buried vertically or at an angle, anchored by the frictional force between the steel plate and the soil.	Auxiliary fixation of greenhouse side walls or end walls, areas with hard soil or soil containing gravel.	Large bearing area, stable pullout resistance, simple construction.
Combination Ground Anchor	Helical anchor + concrete base, or steel cables connecting multiple ground anchors to distribute the load.	Extra-large span glass greenhouses, typhoon-prone areas, and sites with uneven foundations.	Strong pullout resistance, adaptable to complex geological conditions.

III. Key Construction Points for Glass Greenhouse Ground Anchors

Preliminary Investigation and Design

Clarify the local basic wind pressure (refer to the "Building Structure Load Code") and snow load, and calculate the required pullout resistance of the ground anchor (usually requires a single anchor pullout resistance ≥5kN, large greenhouses need to reach 10-20kN).
Investigate the soil type: sandy soil requires increased ground anchor burial depth or the selection of helical anchors; clay soil needs to pay attention to drainage to avoid water accumulation causing ground anchor corrosion.
Avoid underground pipelines (such as irrigation pipes, cables), keep a distance of ≥50cm from the edge of the greenhouse foundation to prevent construction from damaging the foundation.

Installation Process

Helical Ground Anchor Use a special drilling machine to screw the ground anchor into the ground, the burial depth depends on the soil (generally 1.2-2m), ensure that the helical blades are completely in the soil, and the top is horizontally aligned with the greenhouse frame connection point.
Concrete Ground Anchor Excavate a pit (size ≥50cm×50cm×80cm), place precast concrete blocks (or cast in situ, grade ≥C25), embed connecting steel bars, backfill and compact the soil, and cure for more than 7 days before applying load.
Connection and Fixation The ground anchor is connected to the greenhouse frame using steel cables, basket bolts, or U-shaped clamps to ensure that the joints are firm and leave a 1-2cm adjustment allowance to avoid stress concentration due to temperature deformation.

Acceptance Standards

Pullout resistance test: Use a dynamometer for on-site spot checks; the single anchor pullout resistance must reach more than 1.2 times the design value.
Appearance inspection: The ground anchor has no deformation or corrosion, the connecting parts are not loose, and there is no loose soil in the buried part.

IV. Usage and Maintenance Notes

Regular Inspection

Check the connection parts for looseness every quarter, and check steel ground anchors for corrosion (especially in rainy areas, anti-rust paint should be applied annually).
After strong winds and heavy rains, check whether the soil around the ground anchor has settled. If the frame is found to be tilted, adjust the tension in time using basket bolts.

Special Situation Handling

After soil thawing or the rainy season, the pullout resistance should be retested, and the ground anchor depth or quantity should be increased if necessary.
If the ground anchor is deformed or broken, stop using it immediately and replace it. When replacing, use the same specification or higher strength ground anchor.

Long-term Durability Guarantee

For steel ground anchors, hot-dip galvanizing is preferred. For concrete ground anchors, a waterproof coating should be applied to the surface to prevent groundwater erosion.
When renovating or remodeling greenhouses, the reuse of ground anchors should be evaluated based on their actual condition. Ground anchors that have exceeded their design service life (usually 15-20 years) should be replaced entirely.

The selection and construction of ground anchors for glass greenhouses should be "tailor-made" to suit the actual environment. Their reliability is directly related to the safe operation of the greenhouse, especially in areas with frequent extreme weather. Design specifications must be strictly followed to ensure anchoring strength and durability.

Overall glass greenhouse solution

Hot-rolled H-beam

Overall glass greenhouse solution

Hot-rolled H-beam