ABSTRACT
Influence of several sustained loading levels and various in-service conditions on the long-term performance of adhesive bonded anchors are experimentally evaluated. Adhesive bonded anchors with 16 and 20 mm diameters were subjected to sustained load levels between approximately 23 and 70% of their mean ultimate short-term capacities. The creep deformation of tested adhesive anchors was monitored over approximately 28 years. The tested in-service conditions were indoor, outdoor, wetness (i.e. water on the surface of concrete) and presence in the concrete of salt additives.
The tested adhesive anchors in the indoor conditions could carry sustained loads up to 47% of their mean ultimate short-term capacities. However, the adhesive anchors under outdoor environment showed larger creep deformations and failure occurred for anchors subjected to sustained loads higher than 23% of the anchors’ mean ultimate short-time capacities. Wet condition seemed to have no adverse effect on the anchors’ creep behavior, but caused corrosion of the steel in the anchors over time. Salt additives in concrete had negligible influence on the long-term performance and creep deformation of the tested adhesive anchors.
