Western Excelsior Falcon Deep-Set High-Load Anchors for fastening Turf Reinforcement Mats

Percussion Driven Anchors

Western Excelsior is proud to offer the Falcon Anchor line, providing securing hardware for Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRMs), High Performance TRMS (HPTRMs) and more. Falcon Anchors provide innovative, cost-effective solutions for erosion control and soil stabilization applications. Falcon Anchors are designed to provide immediate stabilization, requires no crimping and are have improved load-locking capabilities, for easy installation. The Falcon Anchors are pre-assembled and are available in different configurations to best meet the specified project requirements and geotechnical conditions. Installing Falcon Anchors offers the performance needed while ensuring considerable time and labor savings.

Assembly Components

Anchor assemblies consist of four primary components:

ANCHOR
The anchor is the component driven into the soil that develops resistance to pullout. The size, shape and drive depth effect the pullout resistance of the anchor.
TOP TERMINATION
The top termination grips the ground surface and fabric to secure in place. The size of the load bearing cap effects the ability to hold the soil matrix. Openings in the termination aid in the establishment of vegetation, obscuring and protecting the hardware.
TENDON
The tendon connects the anchor and the top termination. Constructed of high-strength, corrosion resistant galvanized steel or stainless steel, the tendon is a critical piece for long-term performance. The tendon is typically fixed at the anchor side by crimping.
GRIP
The grip is housed in the top termination and secures the tendon in the top termination. A release mechanism can allow for re-setting the assembly, as required.

Each of these components can be varied to provide performance and economy options.

Loading

PDAs are driven into the ground, typically a minimum of three feet. Once the tendon is retracted, approximately three to six inches, the anchor rotates into a load-locked position, developing the pullout resistance for the assembly. When the anchor is rotated, the geometry of the anchor creates friction in the form of a frustrum cone. The anchor can resist pullout to the limit of the friction provided by the soil mass surrounding the assembly.

Animated image of Falcon Anchors maximum load chart and frustrum cone illustration

Variants, Applications and Performance

Anchors are available in three sizes. As the size of the anchor increases, working load and ultimate resistance increase:

F80
Zinc Die Cast
Surface Area: 3.4 in²

F120
Zinc Die Cast
Surface Area: 6 in²

F170
Zinc Die Cast
Surface Area: 12.2 in²

Top Terminations are available in 2 sizes. Durability and working load increase with size.

The top termination uses a unique design to allow for optimized working load, while still allowing vegetation establishment. The termination plate is selected based on the anchor size and cabling configuration. The small termination is 4" diameter, while the large termination is 6" diameter.

Summary of Typical Assemblies. (Alternate configurations available, tendons can be offered in zinc-aluminum or stainless steel.)

Swipe left to view all data.

Assembly/Part	F80-X-Z Series	F120-X-Z Series	F120-SW-Z Series	F170-SW-Z Series
Cap	4" Dia. Zinc Alloy	4" Dia. Zinc Alloy	6" Dia. Zinc Alloy	6" Dia. Zinc Alloy
Grip	Spring-Loaded Ceramic Crush Roller	Spring-Loaded Ceramic Crush Roller	Spring-Loaded Ceramic Crush Roller	Spring-Loaded Ceramic Crush Roller
Cable	1/8" Dia. ZA Coated Steel, 3 ft. Typ.	1/8" Dia. ZA Coated Steel, 6 ft. Typ.	1/4" Dia. ZA Coated Steel, 6 ft. Typ.	1/4" Dia. ZA Coated Steel, 6 ft. Typ.
Anchor	Zinc Alloy 3.1" (80mm) x 1.30" (33mm)	Zinc Alloy 4.7" (120mm) x 1.57" (40mm)	Zinc Alloy 4.7" (120mm) x 1.57" (40mm)	Zinc Alloy 6.7" (170mm) x 2.17" (55mm)
Anchor Bearing Area	3.4 in² (22.0 cm²)	6.0 in² (38.7 cm²)	6.0 in² (38.7 cm²)	12.2 in² (79 cm²)
Typ. Working Load	750 lbs	750 lbs	2,500 lbs	3,000 lbs
Max Working Load	1,300 lbs	1,300 lbs	2,700 lbs	3,500 lbs
Ultimate Assembly Strength	1,500 lbs	1,500 lbs	3,000 lbs	3,800 lbs
Ultimate Cable Strength	2,000 lbs	2,000 lbs	7,000 lbs	7,000 lbs
Typical Use	Workhorse Light Assembly	Soft Soil Workhorse Light Assembly	Hard Soil Heavy Assembly	Standard/Soft Soil Heavy Assembly

Installation

STEP 1

Insert the drive rod into the Falcon anchor head and place perpendicular to the slope. Insert drive rod with anchor head swiftly through the mat in the desired location.

STEP 2

Drive the Falcon Anchor to the desired depth. Anchors can be driven using sledge hammers, gas powered drivers, or hammer drills.

STEP 3

Remove Drive rod. In soft soils, the drive rod can be removed by hand, in tougher soils the use of a jackjaw may be required.

STEP 4

Load lock the anchor once the rod is removed. Slide the top termination flush to the ground. Place JackJaw baseplate directly over the top termination cap. Ensure the cable is in line with the JackJaw jaws. Handle must be in the up position to open jaws. Move the lever handle in a full down/up motion. Pump until resistance is felt. The top termination cap will appear slightly recessed in the mat once the anchor is appropriately load-locked.