Helix anchors have one or more helix disks attached to the anchor rod. What is the purpose of additional helix disks on the same anchor rod?

• A. Each helix disk travels through the same path during installation and provides no additional holding power
• B. Additional helix disks only increase the speed of anchor installation
• C. Each helix disk acts essentially as a separate anchor for increased holding power
• D. Each helix disk travels through the same path during installation, which keeps the anchor rod straight

Answer: (C)

Additional helix disks increase the anchor’s holding power by providing separate bite points in the soil. Each disk acts like a miniature anchor, adding bearing surface and interlock at its depth, so the pull-out load is resisted across multiple planes rather than by a single disk. The disks share the same installation path, but their combined effect is to distribute and multiply the resistance, giving a stronger overall anchor. This is why adding more disks boosts holding capacity rather than speeding installation or simply maintaining a straight path.