Test Methods and Specifications
Post-Tensioned Ground Anchors
- Publication no: ATS-5140-26
- Published: 24 June 2026
- Edition: 2.0
- PDF (free) Download
Austroads Technical Specification ATS 5140 sets out the requirements for the supply, assembly, installation, grouting, stressing and monitoring of Ground Anchors that are post-tensioned. This includes:
- Permanent Ground Anchors;
- Temporary Ground Anchors;
- Ground Anchors installed into soil and/or rock;
- Ground Anchors that are stressed directly to the ground; and
- Ground Anchors that are stressed onto a concrete structure.
ATS 5140 may be used for unstressed or lightly stressed tie-downs that anchor structures to rock or soil.
The Ground Anchors must be constructed in accordance with the Design Documentation and this Specification.
The technical specification can also be downloaded as a Word document.
Edition 2.0 includes changes throughout specification.
Superceded edition:
- 1. Scope
- 2. Referenced Documents
- 3. Definitions
- Symbols
- 4. Quality System Requirements
- 5. Design
- General
- Design Requirements
- Corrosion Protection
- Staggering of Joins in Strand Anchors
- Testing of Proof Anchors and Suitability Anchors
- Design Documentation
- 6. Materials and Components
- General
- Tendons
- Anchorages
- Grout
- Sheaths and Ducts
- Strand/Bar Sheaths
- Ducts for the Tendon Unbonded Length
- Ducts for the Bonded Length of the Ground Anchor
- Factory Grouted Tendons
- Corrosion Inhibiting Compound (CIC)
- Protective Caps
- Testing and Approval of Materials
- 7. Personnel and Supervision of the Work
- General
- Anchor Supervisor
- Critical Anchor Activities
- 8. Assembly of Anchors
- General
- Tendons
- Grout Tubes
- Spacers and Centralisers
- Joints
- Bond Length
- Marking of Tendons and Sheaths
- Certification
- 9. Drilling of Boreholes
- General
- Drilling
- Cleaning
- Borehole Testing
- Pressure Grouting
- Falling Head Grout Test
- Water Testing
- Borehole Conformity Records
- 10. Insertion of the Anchors
- General
- Assembly Insertion for Permanent Anchors that are
- Grouted In-situ
- Water Testing of Inserted Anchor
- Insertion of Factory Grouted Anchors
- 11. Grouting
- General
- Performance
- Mix Design and Testing
- Mixing
- Pumping Equipment
- Grouting Procedure
- Temporary and Factory Grouted Anchors
- Permanent Ground Anchors with In-situ Grouted Ducts
- Conformity Records
- 12. Load Testing
- General
- Loading and Monitoring
- Proof Tests
- Suitability Tests
- Acceptance Tests
- Assessment and Acceptance Criteria
- 13. Stressing the Ground Anchors
- Commencement of Stressing Operations
- Safety Precautions
- Stressing Equipment
- Measurement
- Wedges
- Preparatory Operations
- Control of Stressing Operations
- Stressed Tendon Cut-off
- 14. Monitoring
- General
- Lift-off Tests
- Short-Term Monitoring
- Long-Term Monitoring
- 15. Completion
- Annexure A Summary of Hold Points, Witness Points and Records
- Annexure B Explanatory Diagrams
- Annexure C Load Testing
- C.1 Minimum Frequency of Testing
- C.2 Proof Test
- C.3 Suitability Test
- C.4 Acceptance Test
Related publications
ATS-5452-26
ATS-5230-26
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