AU2014349300B2

AU2014349300B2 - Interlocking tie- back

Info

Publication number: AU2014349300B2
Application number: AU2014349300A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Wai Ming ANG; Ang Zhen Xuan SEAN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-11-14
Filing date: 2014-11-10
Publication date: 2017-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-10
Also published as: AU2014349300A1; WO2015072845A1; MY171017A

Abstract

An interlocking tie-back arranged in an array manner, and adapted to serve as a support to allow distribution of loadings efficiently onto a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of unrestrained soil, earth, structures, fences, utilities, or the like. The interlocking tie-back includes: a) at least one bearing platform, wherein the bearing platform comprising: i) a rigid body, ii) a hollow collar, iii) a hollow sleeve provided with female threads on its inner wall surface, iv) a plurality of spaced apart cavities, v) a plurality of channels, and/or vi) a plurality of canals; b) a hollow, tapered anchor wedge; c) a plurality of hollow, tapered wedge cavities; d) a hollow anchor wedge bolt with male threads; e) a plurality of interlocking members / linkage arms or; f) a plurality of tensioning cables; and/or g) a tie rod or tendon securely connected to the bearing platform.

Description

WO 2015/072845 PCT/MY2014/000261 1

INTERLOCKING TIE- BACK FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an interlocking tie-back, and more 5 particularly an interlocking tie-back for retaining unrestrained soils, earths, rocks, structures, fences, utilities, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Earth tiebacks or ground anchors, are often used in the construction industry 10 to support or anchor various structures in the ground. For example, they are used to support retaining walls bordering highways or to support excavation sheeting to prevent cave-ins which would otherwise endanger lives and property. Such tiebacks generally comprise a pre-stressing steel tendon, fabricated from multi-element strands or a single bar, installed in the ground and secured at its outer end by an 15 anchor head to an excavation sheeting system or other structure to be supported. A cement grouted anchor is formed around the opposite distal end of the tendon to distribute forces applied to the tendon to the surrounding soil.

Generally, tiebacks, anchor and tendon installations for use in relatively loose or unrestrained soils are known in the shoring system field, and it is 20 acknowledged that others have previously been concerned with the provision of earth / land anchors for other tie back purposes. Earth / land anchors used for tie back purposes in connection with the anchoring of loose or unrestrained soils, earths, rocks, structures, fences, utilities, etc. are not believed to be directly comparable especially if the anchors are driven from different ground site, 25 environment field or surrounding conditions. PCT/MY2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 2

It is also known that ground strengthening system for improving the bulk properties of the ground is typically effected by driving elongated reinforcing members, referred to as soil nails, into the ground in an array. The soil nails themselves are not used for direct support of an overlying structure; rather, the soil nails are simply used to prevent shifting or other undesirable properties or characteristics of a particular geological formation that is built upon.

In some cases, the earth surrounding or near a man-made structure becomes unstable and requires active support, such as by a tieback. Tiebacks are pre-tensioned subsurface supports that are used to restrain any movement of surrounding soil and rock. Tiebacks are similar to passive soil nails in construction, and can be emplaced in a similar fashion as a soil nail. More recently, soil nails and tiebacks have also been used to provide temporary and permanent excavation support and slope stabilization. A related but more severe problem is encountered where soil nails and anchors must be established in a more loosely consolidated earth structure. Under such conditions the tension loadings to be established in the tendons must be transferred to the earth structure in a manner that will allow effective distribution of such loadings into a larger bulk area or volumetric zone of the supporting earth structure. The problem is further complicated by the fact that the possibility of a collapse in the shoring system due to such loadings is increased when a loosely consolidated overburden type of material is being excavated.

Although there are several systems and/or methods of attaching soil reinforcing elements to facing structures, it nonetheless remains desirable to find improved soil nail or tendon tie backs offering less expensive alternatives and greater resistance to tension / compression or shear forces inherent in unrestrained PCT/MY2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 3 soils, earth, rocks, structures, fences, utilities, or the like. Accordingly, the present invention provides an interlocking tie-back, which is arranged in an array, said interlocking tie-back adapted to serve as a support to allow distribution of loadings effectively into a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of unrestrained soil, earth, rock, structures, fences, utilities, or the like.

It will be appreciated that the interlocking tie-back of the present invention may also be used in multiple applications to include support for excavations as an active / passive soil nail in tension, bending and/or shear, support to stabilize sloping terrain, retaining walls, sheet piles, rock anchors or river gabions as a tieback in tension, support for an above ground structure, such as a micro-pile in compression and/or shear, or support for an above ground structure, such as an anchor in tension.

The interlocking tie-back according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention and its combination of elements or parts thereof will be described and/or exemplified in the detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide an interlocking tie-back adapted to be configured in an array generally formed as a surface interlocking for distributing any tension, compression and/or shear loads to a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of any unrestrained soil, earth, rocks, structures, fences, utilities, or the like. The interlocking tie-back includes: a) at least one bearing platform, wherein the bearing platform comprises: i) a rigid body having top and bottom with a plurality of opposing side walls and a through hole located at substantially the centre of the body; ii) a hollow collar with a collar passage; iii) a hollow sleeve with a sleeve PCT/MY2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 4 passage provided with female threads on its inner wall surface; iv) a plurality of spaced apart cavities with at least one tapered wall section on the collar surrounding the sleeve; v) a plurality of channels extending radially from the opening of the respective cavity at the bottom of the body and opening into the side wall of the rigid body, each channel is adapted to slidably receive an interlocking member / linkage arm; and/or; vi) a plurality of canals radially extended from the opening of the cavity at the bottom of the body and opening into a side wall of the rigid body adjacent the side wall provided with a channel, each canal serves to facilitate a pathway for a tensioning cable to pass through, and to provide sufficient space to accommodate the tensioning cable; b) a hollow, tapered anchor wedge with an anchor wedge passage through which a tie rod or tendon is inserted there through, the anchor wedge adapted to fit into the sleeve and accommodate an anchor wedge bolt provided with male threads; c) a plurality of hollow, tapered wedge cavities through which tensioning cable is inserted there through, the wedge cavities adapted to accommodate cavity wedges; d) a plurality of interlocking members / linkage arms adapted to be slidably inserted into the channels of the bearing platform; e) a plurality of tensioning cables adapted to be slidably inserted into the canals of the bearing platform and/or into a track on the interlocking members / linkage arms; and/or f) a tie rod or tendon securely connected to the bearing platform at one end, and to an anchor, soil nail or the like at the other end.

The present invention also provides a bearing platform for use in interlocking tie-back adapted to be configured in an array so that the interlocking tie-back generally formed as a surface interlocking for distributing any tension, compression and/or shear loads to a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of any unrestrained soil, earth, rocks, structures, fences, utilities, or the like. The bearing PCT/MY2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 5 platform includes: a) a rigid body having top and bottom with a plurality of opposing side walls and a through hole located at the centre of the body; b) a hollow collar with a collar passage; c) a hollow sleeve with a sleeve passage provided with female threads on its inner wall surface; d) a plurality of spaced apart cavities with 5 at least one tapered wall section on the collar surrounding the sleeve; e) a plurality of channels extending radially from the opening of the respective cavity at the bottom of the body and opening into the side wall of the rigid body, each channel is adapted to slidably receive an interlocking member / linkage arm; and/or f) a plurality of canals radially extended from the opening of the cavity at the bottom of 10 the body and opening into a side wall of the rigid body adjacent the side wall provided with a channel, each canal serves to facilitate a pathway for a tensioning cable to be passed through, and to provide sufficient space to accommodate the tensioning cable.

Accordingly, the bearing platform may be an array configured to include a 15 combination of interlocking members / linkage arms, or tensioner cables, or both interlocking members / linkage arms and tensioner cables to form a surface interlocking for distributing any tension, compression and/or shear loads to a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of any unrestrained soil, earth, rocks, structures, fences, utilities, or the like. 20 The present invention consists of several novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying description and drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention. 25 PCT/MY2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 6

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein:

Fig. 1a illustrates an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of an interlocking tie-back of the present invention and its combination of elements or parts thereof;

Fig. 1b illustrates an exploded view of another preferred embodiment of an interlocking tie-back of the present invention and its combination of elements or parts thereof;

Fig. 1c illustrates a perspective view of an assembled interlocking tie-back according to the embodiment of Fig. 1b;

Fig. 2a is an enlarged perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a bearing platform of the interlocking tie-back of the present invention;

Fig. 2b is a cross-sectional perspective view of the bearing platform of Fig. 2a;

Fig. 3a is an enlarged perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an interlocking member or linkage arm of the interlocking tie-back of the present invention;

Fig. 3b is an enlarged perspective view of another preferred embodiment of an interlocking member or linkage arm of the interlocking tie-back of the present invention;

Fig. 4 shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional side view illustrating a unitary interlocking tie-back being installed in accordance with preferred embodiment of the present invention; PCT/MY2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 7

Figs. 5a to 5e show possible combinations of the interlocking tie-backs and with their elements or parts being installed according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to an interlocking tie-back. Hereinafter, this specification will describe the present invention according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisaged that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The present invention aims to provide an interlocking tie-back that is arranged in an array manner, wherein the interlocking tie-back is adapted to serve as a support to allow effective distribution of loadings onto a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of unrestrained soil, earth, rocks, structures, fences, utilities, or the like. It should be noted that the interlocking tie-back is also adapted to serve in multiple applications, such as, for example but not limited to, serving as an active / passive soil nail in tension, bending and/or shear as support for excavations, serving as a tieback in tension as support to stabilize sloping terrains retaining walls, sheet piles, rock anchors or river gabions, serving as a micro-pile in compression and/or shear as a support for an above the structure, or serving as a tensioned anchor as a support for an above the ground structure. PCT/MY2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 8

The interlocking tie-back according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in accordance to the accompanying drawings Figs. 1a to 5e, either individually or in any combination thereof.

Figs. 1a to 1c illustrate of preferred embodiments of an interlocking tie-back 10 of the present invention and its associated components thereof forming a surface interlocking adapted for distributing a tension, compression and/or shear loads to a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of unrestrained soil, earth, rocks, structures, fences, utilities, or the like. The interlocking tie-back 10 generally includes a bearing platform 20, a hollow, tapered anchor wedge 70, a plurality of hollow, tapered cavity wedges 60, a hollow anchor wedge bolt 25, a plurality of interlocking members / linkage arms 30a or 30b, a plurality of tensioning cables 40, a tie rod or tendon 50 securely connected to the bearing platform 20 at one end, and to an anchor 80 at the other end (Fig. 4).

Referring to Figs. 1a to 2b, the bearing platform 20 generally includes a rigid body 22, a hollow collar 21, a hollow sleeve 23, a plurality of spaced apart cavities 21b, a plurality of channels 26, and a plurality of canals 28.

In the preferred embodiment, the rigid body 22 of the bearing platform 20 has a top 22a and a bottom 22d with a plurality of parallel opposing side walls 22b, 22c and a through hole 22e located at substantially the centre of the body 22. The hollow collar 21 has a collar passage 21e surrounded by circumferential wall extending upwards from the edge of the through hole 22e of the body 22. The collar passage 21e is coaxial to the through hole 22e and tapers towards the rigid body 22. The hollow sleeve 23 has a sleeve passage 23e surrounded by circumferential wall extending upwards from an end of the collar 21 distal from the rigid body 22; PCT/MY2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 9 the sleeve 23 is provided with female threads on its inner wall. The sleeve passage 23e is coaxial with the collar passage 21 e and the through hole 22e.

The collar passage 21 e is adapted to accommodate the hollow, tapered anchor wedge 70. The anchor wedge 70 has an anchor wedge passage 70e having an axis coaxial with the sleeve 23. By way of example but not limitation, the anchor wedge 70 may be secured by the hollow anchor wedge bolt 25 with male threads that matingly engaged with the female threads on the sleeve 23. It should be noted that any other types of fastening means deemed suitable for this purpose can also be used. Preferably, the collar passage 21 e and the anchor wedge 70 are frustoconical in shape.

In the preferred embodiment, the through hole 22e of the rigid body 22, the collar passage 21e and sleeve passage 23e collectively formed a passage 24 which enables the tie rod or tendon 50 to be inserted there through.

The bearing platform 20 further comprises a plurality of spaced apart cavities 21b on the collar 21, surrounding the sleeve 23. The spaced apart cavities 21b are adapted to accommodate the tapered cavity wedges 60, wherein each cavity wedge 60 has a cavity wedge passage 60e. Each cavity 21b opens into the bottom 22d of the rigid body 22 and enables tensioning cable 40 to be inserted through the cavity 21b. If desired, the cavity wedges 60 may be secured by a hollow bolt (not shown), or by any other types of fastening means deemed suitable for this purpose.

By way of example but not limitation, each cavity 21b has a mirror tapered wall section 27 which enables the cavity wedge 60 to be slidably inserted into either of the tapered wall sections 27 of the cavity 21b, depending upon the nature of application and/or usage requirements. Preferably, the cavity 21b and the cavity wedge 60 are frustoconical in shape. PCT/MY2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 10

It will be appreciated that the anchor wedge 70 and cavity wedge 60, although exemplary, will be used herein in describing the functions of the present invention, however other types, designs, styles and/or configurations of wedge are also contemplated. As such, the anchor wedge 70 and cavity wedge 60 disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting in any way.

It will also be appreciated that any other suitable types of wedge currently available in the market adapted to serve as retaining means or gripping element to prevent any displacement or dislodgment of the tie rod or tendon 50 and/or tensioning cable 40 may also be used.

In the preferred embodiment, the bearing platform 20 comprises a plurality of channels 26 on the bottom 22d of the rigid body 22. Each channels 26 extending radially from the opening of the respective cavity 21b at the bottom 22d of the body 22 and opening into the side wall 22b of the rigid body 22. Each channel 26 is adapted to slidably receive an interlocking member / linkage arm 30a or 30b as shown in Figs. 3a and 3b. The bearing platform 20 also comprises a plurality of canals 28 radially extended from the opening of the cavity 21b at the bottom 22d of the body 22 and each opening into a side wall 22c adjacent to the side wall 22b. Each canal 28 serves to facilitate a pathway for the tensioning cable 40 to be passed through besides providing sufficient space to accommodate the tensioning cable 40.

Referring to Figs. 3a and 3b, the interlocking member / linkage arm 30a or 30b can include but is not limited to concrete slot, iron bar or steel plate adapted to be slidably inserted into the channel 26 of the bearing platform 20. Each distal end of the interlocking member / linkage arm 30a or 30b is preferably provided with interlocking protrusion 32 adapted to be matingly engaged with the channel 26 of PCT/M Y2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 11 the bearing platform 20. If desired, each interlocking member / linkage arm 30a or 30b may be provided with a track 34 to facilitate a pathway for the tensioning cable 40 to pass through and also serves to provide sufficient space to accommodate the tensioning cable 40. The track 34 can be positioned either at the top or at the bottom of the interlocking member / linkage arm 30a or 30b depending upon the nature of application and/or usage requirements.

If desired, the interlocking member / linkage arm 30a or 30b can be provided with apertures 33 to enable the tensioning cable 40 to be crossed over the interlocking member / linkage arm 30a or 30b so as to provide further retention characteristics to the interlocking tie-back 10. It will be appreciated that the retention characteristics may be useful for certain applications such as, for example but not limited to, rock anchor or gabion applications.

It will be appreciated that the tensioning cable 40, although exemplary, will be used herein in describing the functions of the present invention; however other types of tensioning cable are also contemplated. As such, the tensioning cable 40 as mentioned herein should not be construed as limiting in any way. The tensioning cable 40 of the present invention may be of any types, or alternatively, may be a tensioner rod, wire, cord, chain or other types of tensioning cable deemed suitable for this purpose, so as to obtain substantially similar or different effects, or desired operating characteristics.

In effect, the interlocking tie-back 10 is adapted to be configured in an array generally formed as a surface interlocking for distributing a tension, compression and/or shear loads to a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of any unrestrained soil, earth, rocks, structures, fences, utilities, or the like. Figs. 5a to 5e show possible combinations of the interlocking tie-backs 10 and with their elements PCT/M Y2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 12 or parts being installed according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 5a, the interlocking tie-back 10 may be array configured to include the combination of the bearing platforms 20 with the interlocking members / linkage arms 30a or 30b to form a surface interlocking for distributing any tension, compression and/or shear loads to surface area or volumetric zone of any unrestrained soil, earth, rocks, structures, fences, utilities, or the like. The interlocking tie-back 10 may also be array configured to include a combination of the bearing platforms 20 with the tensioning cables 40 as shown and illustrated in Fig. 5b.

It will be appreciated that the interlocking tie-back 10 may also be array configured to include both the above-mentioned combinations, if desired (Fig. 5c). Accordingly, the interlocking tie-back 10 may be array configured to include a combination of bearing platforms 20, interlocking members / linkage arms 30a or 30b and tensioning cables 40 to form a surface interlocking for distributing any tension, compression and/or shear loads to surface area or volumetric zone of any unrestrained soil, earth, rocks, structures, fences, utilities, or the like.

Fig. 5d shows another possible combination of the interlocking tie-back 10 and with its associated elements or parts being installed to form a surface interlocking for sheet piles. Accordingly, the interlocking tie-back 10 may be array configured in series to include a combination of bearing platforms 20, interlocking members / linkage arms 30a or 30b and/or tensioning cables 40 to form an interlocking tieback to support the sheet piles.

Yet, still another possible configuration of the interlocking tie-back 10 and its associated elements or parts thereof to form a support for rock anchors or gabions PCT/MY2014/000261 WO 2015/072845 13 as a tieback in tension is shown and illustrated in Fig. 5e. Accordingly, the interlocking tie-back 10 may be array configured in series to include a combination of bearing platforms 20 with the interlocking members / linkage arms 30a or 30b and tensioning cables 40 to form an interlocking tieback to support the rock anchors or gabions.

With the above-possible combinations, the interlocking tie-back 10 is adapted to serve in multiple applications, such as, for example but not limited to, support for excavations as an active / passive soil nail in tension, bending and/or shear, support to stabilize sloping terrain, retaining walls, sheet piles, rock anchors or river gabions as a tieback in tension, support for an above ground structure as a micro-pile in compression and/or shear, or support for an above ground structure as an anchor in tension.

It should be noted that configurations of various parts, elements and/or members used to carry out the above-mentioned embodiments are illustrative and exemplary only. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that those configurations, parts, elements and/or members used herein may be altered in a manner so as to obtain different effects or desired operating characteristics. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described configurations, arrangements, structures, applications, functions or components used in the practice of the present invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments and conditions, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from WO 2015/072845 PCT/MY2014/000261 14 the principle and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would obvious to one skilled in the art intended to be included within the scope of following claims.

Claims

1. An interlocking tie-back (10) adapted to be configured in an array generally formed as a surface interlocking for distributing any tension, compression and / or shear loads to a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of any unrestrained soil, earth, rock, structures, fences, utilities, or the like, the interlocking tie-back (10) includes: a) a bearing platform (20) comprising: a rigid body (22) having a top (22a), a bottom (22d), a plurality of parallel opposing side walls (22b, 22c) and a through hole (22e) at substantially its centre; a hollow collar (21) with a collar passage (21 e) surrounded by circumferential walls extending upwards from the edge of the through hole at the top of the body (22), the collar passage (21 e) coaxial to the through hole (22e) and tapers towards the body (22); a hollow sleeve (23) with a sleeve passage (23e) surrounded by circumferential wall extending upwards from an end of the hollow collar (21) distal from the body (22), the sleeve passage (23e) coaxial with the collar passage (21e) and the through hole (22e) and provided with female threads on its inner wall surface; a plurality of spaced apart cavities (21b) on the collar (21), surrounding the sleeve (23) and opening into the bottom (22d) of the body (22), each cavity (21b) with at least one tapered wall section (27); a plurality of channels (26) on the bottom (22d) of the body (22), each channel (26) extending radially from the opening of the respective cavity (21b) at the bottom of the body (22) and opening into alternate side wall (22b); and a plurality of canals (28) at the bottom (22d) of the body (22), each canal (28) extending radially from the opening of the respective cavity (21b) at the bottom of the body (22) and opening into a side wall (22c) adjacent the side wall (22b) provided with a channel (26); b) a hollow, tapered anchor wedge (70) with an anchor wedge passage (70e) having an axis coaxial with the sleeve (23) and adapted to fit into the sleeve (23) with the tapered end as the leading edge into the sleeve (23); c) a plurality of hollow, tapered cavity wedges (60), each cavity wedge (60) with a cavity wedge passage (60e) and each adapted to fit into the cavity (21b) with the tapered end as the leading edge into the cavity (21b); d) a hollow anchor wedge bolt (25) with male threads mating the female threads on the sleeve (23); e) a plurality of interlocking members / linkage arms (30a, 30b), each interlocking members / linkage arms (30a, 30b) adapted to have one end with a portion matingly slidably insertable into one of the channels (26) on the body (22) and the other end with a portion matingly slidably insertable into a channel (26) on an adjacent bearing platform (20), each interlocking member / linkage arm (30a, 30b) provided with a track (34) adapted to accommodate the passage of a tensioning cable (40) there through; f) a plurality of tensioning cables (40) each adapted to pass through the cavity wedge passage (60e), the cavity (21b) and into the track (34) of the interlocking members / linkage arms (30a, 30b) inserted into the channel (26) or into the canal (28), the cavity wedge (60) being adapted to serve as retaining means or gripping element to prevent any displacement or dislodgment of the cable (40); and g) a tie rod or tendon (50) passing through a passage (24) defined by the through hole (22e), the collar passage (21e) and the sleeve passage (23e) and connecting the interlocking tie-back (10) and an earth anchor (60), a rock anchor, a soil nail or the like; the tie rod or tendon (50) being stress able by tightening of the hollow anchor wedge bolt (25) on the sleeve (23) to force the anchor wedge (70) to slide towards the body (22) and grips on the tie rod or tendon (50) to prevent any displacement or dislodgment of the tie rod or tendon (50).

2. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in Claim 1, wherein each cavity (21b) has two tapered wall sections (27) which is a mirror of one another to facilitate slidably insertion of the cavity wedge (60) into either of the tapered wall sections (27).

3. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in Claim 2, wherein each of the tapered wall section (27) is frustoconical shaped.

4. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in Claim 1, wherein each end of the interlocking member / linkage arm (30a or 30b) is provided with at least one interlocking protrusion (32) adapted to matingly engage with the channel (26) of the body (22).

5. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in Claim 1, wherein the track (34) is at the top of the interlocking member / linkage arm (30a).

6. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in Claim 1, wherein the track (34) is at the bottom of the interlocking member / linkage arm (30b).

7. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in Claim 6, wherein the interlocking member / linkage arm (30b) is further provided with apertures (33) to enable the cable (40) to be crossed over said interlocking member / linkage arm (30b).

8. An interlocking tie-back (10) adapted to be configured in an array generally formed as a surface interlocking for distributing any tension, compression and / or shear loads to a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of any unrestrained soil, earth, rock, structures, fences, utilities, or the like, the interlocking tie-back (10) includes: a) a bearing platform (20) comprising: a rigid body (22) having a top (22a), a bottom (22d) and a plurality of parallel opposing side walls (22b, 22c) and a through hole (22e) at substantially its centre; a hollow collar (21) with a collar passage (21 e) surrounded by circumferential walls extending upwards from the edge of the through hole (22e) at the top (22a) of the body (22), the collar passage (21e) coaxial to the through hole (22e) and tapers towards the body (22); a hollow sleeve (23) with a sleeve passage (23e) surrounded by circumferential wall extending upwards from an end of the hollow collar (21) distal from the body (22), the sleeve passage (23e) coaxial to the collar passage (21 e) and the through hole (22e) and provided with female threads on its inner wall surface; and a plurality of channels (26) on the bottom of the body (22), each channel (26) opening into the side wall (22b); b) a hollow, tapered anchor wedge (70) with an anchor wedge passage (70e) having an axis coaxial with the sleeve (23) and adapted to fit into the sleeve (23) with the tapered end as the leading edge into the sleeve (23); c) a hollow anchor wedge bolt (25) with male threads mating the female threads on the sleeve (23); d) at least a pair of interlocking members / linkage arms (30a, 30b) on a pair of opposing side walls, each interlocking members adapted to have a portion matingly slidably insertable into the respective channel (26) and each interlocking member / linkage arm (30a, 30b) provided with a track (34); and e) a tie rod or tendon (50) passing through a passage (24) defined by the through hole (22e), the collar passage (21 e) and the sleeve passage (23e) and connecting the interlocking tie-back (10) and an earth anchor (60), a rock anchor, a soil nail or the like; the tie rod or tendon (50) being stress able by tightening of the hollow anchor wedge bolt (25) on the sleeve (23) to force the anchor wedge (70) to slide towards the body (22) and grips on the tie rod or tendon (50) to prevent any displacement or dislodgment of the tie rod or tendon (50).

9. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in claim 8, wherein the body (22) further includes a plurality of spaced apart cavities (21b) on the collar (21), surrounding the sleeve (23) and opening into the bottom (22d) of the body (22), each cavity (21 b) with at least one tapered wall section (27); wherein the channel (26) is extending radially from the opening of the respective cavity (21 b) at the bottom (22d) of the body (22); the interlocking tie-back (10) further includes a plurality of tensioning cables (40) and a plurality of hollow, tapered cavity wedges (60), each cavity wedge (60) having a cavity wedge passage (60e) and adapted to fit into the cavity (21b) with the tapered end as the leading edge into the cavity (21b); and wherein the tensioning cable (40) is adapted to pass through the cavity wedge passage (60e) of the cavity wedge (60), the cavity (21b) and into the track (34) of the interlocking members / linkage arms (30a, 30b) inserted into the channel (26) onto which the tensioning cable (40) passes into, with the track (34) adapted to accommodate the tensioning cable (40).

10. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in Claim 9, wherein each of the cavities (21b) has two tapered wall sections (27) which is a mirror of one another to facilitate slidably insertion of the cavity wedge (60) into either of the tapered wall section (27).

11. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in Claim 10, wherein each of the tapered wall section (27) is frustoconical shaped.

12. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in Claim 8, wherein each end of the interlocking member / linkage arm (30a or 30b) is provided with at least one interlocking protrusion (32) adapted to matingly engage with the channel (26) of the body (22).

13. An interlocking tie-back (10) adapted to be configured in an array generally formed as a surface interlocking for distributing any tension, compression and / or shear loads to a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of any unrestrained soil, earth, rock, structures, fences, utilities, or the like, the interlocking tie-back (10) includes: a) a bearing platform (20) comprising: a rigid body (22) having a top (22a), a bottom (22d) and a plurality of parallel opposing side walls (22b, 22c) and a through hole (22e) at substantially its centre; a hollow collar (21) with a collar passage (21 e) surrounded by circumferential walls extending upwards from the edge of the through hole (22e) at the top (22a) of the body (22), the collar passage (21e) coaxial to the through hole (22e) and tapers towards the body (22); a hollow sleeve (23) with a sleeve passage (23e) surrounded by circumferential wall extending upwards from an end of the hollow collar (21) distal from the body (22), the sleeve passage (23e) coaxial to the collar passage (21 e) and the through hole (22e) and provided with female threads on its inner wall; a plurality of spaced apart cavities (21b) on the collar (21), surrounding the sleeve (23) and opening into the bottom (22d) of the body (22), each cavity (21b) with at least one tapered wall section (27); and a plurality of canals (28) on the bottom (22d) of the body (22), each canal (28) extending radially from the opening of the respective cavity (21b) at the bottom (22d) of the body (22) and opening into the respective side wall (22c); b) a hollow, tapered anchor wedge (70) with an anchor wedge passage (70e) having an axis coaxial with the sleeve (23) and adapted to fit into the collar (21) with the tapered end as the leading edge into the collar (21); c) a plurality of hollow, tapered cavity wedges (60), each cavity wedge (60) with a cavity wedge passage (60e) and each adapted to fit into the cavity (21b) with the tapered end as the leading edge into the cavity (21b); d) a hollow anchor wedge bolt (25) with male threads mating the female threads on the sleeve (23); e) a plurality of tensioning cables (40), each adapted to pass through the cavity wedge passage (60e), the cavity (21b) and into the respective canal (28) on the side wall (22c) of the base (22); and f) a tie rod or tendon (50) passing through a passage (24) defined by the through hole (22e), the collar passage (21 e) and the sleeve passage (23e) and connecting the interlocking tie-back (10) and an earth anchor (60), a rock anchor, a soil nail or the like; the tie rod or tendon (50) being stress able by tightening of the hollow anchor wedge bolt (25) on the sleeve (23) to force the anchor wedge (70) to slide towards the body (22) and grips on the tie rod or tendon (50) to prevent any displacement or dislodgment of the tie rod or tendon (50).

14. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in Claim 13, wherein each cavity (21b) has two tapered wall sections (27) which is a mirror of one another to facilitate slidably insertion of the cavity wedge (60) into either of the tapered wall section (27).

15. The interlocking tie-back (10) as in Claim 14, wherein each of the tapered wall section (27) is frustoconical shaped.

16. A bearing platform (20) for use in interlocking tie-back (10) adapted to be configured in an array and generally formed as a surface interlocking for distributing any tension, compression and / or shear loads to a larger bulk surface area or volumetric zone of any unrestrained soil, earth, structures, fences, utilities, or the like, the bearing platform (20) includes: a) a rigid body (22) having a top (22a), a bottom (22d), a plurality of parallel opposing side walls (22b, 22c) and a through hole (22e) at substantially the centre of the rigid body (22); b) a hollow collar (21) with a collar passage (21 e) surrounded by circumferential walls extending upwards from the edge of the through hole (22e) at the top of the rigid body (22), the collar passage (21 e) coaxial to the through hole (22e) and tapers towards the rigid body (22); c) a hollow sleeve (23) with a sleeve passage (23e) surrounded by circumferential wall extending upwards from an end of the hollow collar (21) distal from the rigid body (22), the sleeve passage (23e) coaxial to the collar passage (21 e) and the through hole 22e) and provided with female threads on its inner wall surface; d) a plurality of spaced apart cavities (21b) on the collar (21), surrounding the sleeve (23) and opening into the bottom (22d) of the body (22), each of the cavity (60) with at least one tapered wall section (27) and each adapted to accommodate a cavity wedge (60), through which a tensioning cable (40) could be inserted therethrough; e) a plurality of channels (26) on the bottom of the body (22), each channel (26) extending radially from the opening of the respective cavity (60) at the bottom (22d) of the body (22) and opening into alternate side walls (22b), each channel (26) is adapted to slidably receive an interlocking member / linkage arm (30a or 30b); and f) a plurality of canals (28) on the bottom of the body (22), each canal (28) extending radially from the opening of the respective cavity (60) at the bottom (22d) of the body (22) and opening into a side wall (22c) adjacent the side wall (22b) provided with a channel (26), each canal (28) provides sufficient space to allow the passage of a tensioning cable (40);

17. The bearing platform (20) as in Claim 16, wherein each cavity (21b) has two tapered wall sections (27) which is a mirror of one another to facilitate slidably insertion of the cavity wedge (60) into either of the tapered wall section (27).

18. The bearing platform (20) as in Claim 17, wherein each of the tapered wall section (27) is frustoconical shaped.

19. The bearing platform (20) as in Claim 16, wherein the bearing platform (20) can be configured in an array to include a combination of interlocking members / linkage arms (30a or 30b), or tensioning cables (40), or both interlocking members / linkage arms (30a or 30b) and tensioning cables (40).