A buried anchor, usually a heavy timber, concrete block, or steel plate, connected to a retaining wall or structure by a tieback rod or cable. The weight of the soil on top of the deadman provides massive resistance against outward pressure, preventing the wall from leaning or collapsing.
Heard on the job
Dig the trench back at least six feet so we can bury the deadman in undisturbed soil.
Insider tip
A deadman is useless if buried in loose fill dirt; it must be set in compacted or undisturbed soil to resist the tension.
Also heard as
- Deadman anchor