# Cable elements as soil Anchors

**URL:** <https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/cable-elements-as-soil-anchors/1551>\
**Category:** FLAC2D\
**Created:** [June 26, 2024, 4:25am UTC](https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/cable-elements-as-soil-anchors/1551 "2024-06-26T04:25:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Razi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Razi](https://forum.itascainternational.com/u/Razi)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 4:25am UTC](https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/cable-elements-as-soil-anchors/1551/1 "2024-06-26T04:25:32Z")

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Hi all,  
when i model anchors i need to define tension at the free length.  
seems the tension is not the define locking load (as in plaxis/wallap),but the total response of the model to applied force. at the end the axial stress at the cables lower in 20-50%.  
**any idea how i define the desire locking load?**

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**Author:** ![dblanksma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@dblanksma](https://forum.itascainternational.com/u/dblanksma)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2024, 3:01pm UTC](https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/cable-elements-as-soil-anchors/1551/2 "2024-06-26T15:01:57Z")

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Hello @Razi  
You can use the `structure cable apply tension` command to define a tensile axial force in the cable. The command also uses the range logic, so you can limit which cable elements will be pretensioned. [Here](https://docs.itascacg.com/itasca900/common/sel/doc/manual/sel_manual/cables/cables.html?node1333#cable-pretensioning) is more information regarding cable pretensioning.

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**Author:** ![Razi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Razi](https://forum.itascainternational.com/u/Razi)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 2:48am UTC](https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/cable-elements-as-soil-anchors/1551/3 "2024-07-18T02:48:49Z")

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hey,

can you please help me with the syntex?

assuming we have cable “c1” nodes 53-75.

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**Author:** ![dblanksma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@dblanksma](https://forum.itascainternational.com/u/dblanksma)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2024, 5:40pm UTC](https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/cable-elements-as-soil-anchors/1551/4 "2024-07-18T17:40:23Z")

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I’d suggest grouping the cables elements you want pretensioned and using the _group_ keyword as part of you range.

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**Author:** ![Razi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Razi](https://forum.itascainternational.com/u/Razi)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 6:06am UTC](https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/cable-elements-as-soil-anchors/1551/5 "2024-07-21T06:06:04Z")

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can you **please** give an example how to write it down?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dblanksma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@dblanksma](https://forum.itascainternational.com/u/dblanksma)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://forum.itascainternational.com/t/cable-elements-as-soil-anchors/1551/6 "2024-07-22T14:46:55Z")

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Yes, in the example [Full-Scale Test Wall in Sand (FLAC2D)](https://docs.itascacg.com/itasca910/flac3d/zone/test2d/ExampleApplications/FromFLAC/06TestWall/TestWall.html?node4134), a cable is anchored and pre-tensioned along a specific length. See _excavation-3.dat_.