The Behaviour of Shear Anchors with Different Grout Properties

Abstract

During the assembling of a steel structure with anchors, grout should be used in connections be- tween steel elements and a reinforced concrete support element. In horizontal and vertical joints, grout is used as a good construction practice for solving geometric tolerance problems. Grout can be used with cast-in anchors or post-installed anchors. However, the relation between anchor shear resistance and characteristic grout compressive strength is not described in detail in tech- nical regulations. The behaviour of a connection considering achieved slip tolerances should match the boundary conditions set in the global analysis. In the support joint, grout properties could influence the value of the slip between a steel part and a concrete part of the joint. Slip value could be significant for the relevant design cases featuring the interaction of shear force and ten- sion force. In this paper, results of the push-out test conducted on anchors are presented. Based on the experimental test, the finite element analysis was performed to investigate the shear con- nection behaviour. According to the preliminary results, it can be concluded that a grout strength and a grout thickness influence the connection response when serviceability loads are applied, alt- hough they do not influence the ultimate load bearing capacity of anchors. In some cases, using the contemporary solutions of high strength grout materials, the slip between steel and concrete parts in the connection could be reduced.