2.2.

3 Pushing behavior

The behavior of VDL in PZ- or CL-form under shear stress is analyzed in [Sei09] and
[Hei12]. Under shear stress, the thrust force of the steel dowel acts on the concrete dowel
present in the recess. The force transmission between the steel and concrete brackets is carried
out largely by a contact pressure in the area of the dowel end faces. A lesser proportion of the
thrust force is also transmitted tangentially by friction between the surfaces of steel dowels
and surrounding concrete. Immediately before the dowel face of the steel tooth, a multi-axial
compressive stress state is formed in the concrete. Due to the partial surface pressure, the
concrete can absorb a multiple of the uniaxial concrete pressure strength. In this case, changes
occur in the structure of the compressed concrete (possibly up to complete pulverization). A
distinction is made between three types of failure, which are shown in Figure 2-2.

Punching the concrete: Compression of the concrete wedge in the dowel recess causes a
force that acts perpendicular to the acting thrust in the direction of the smallest concrete
covering (Fig. 2-2, left). As soon as the load-bearing capacity of the concrete is exceeded as a
result of transverse tensile stresses, a slanted break-out cone forms on the outside of the
concrete slab. When the cone breaks, the compressed concrete wedge collapses. The punching
resistance can be increased by increasing the concrete cover.

Steel failure: This type of failure is characterized by large plastic deformations of the steel
dowel and a tear in the steel dowel in the direction of the thrust force (Fig. 2-2, center). Steel
failure generally occurs in composite materials with a high height to width ratio and is caused
by bending stresses in the steel dowel. Due to the great deformability of the steel dowel, the
failure can be classified as extremely ductile.

Concrete shear shearing: Shearing the concrete bead is a two-layer shear failure of the
concrete in the area of the recess (Fig. 2-2, right). It can theoretically occur with very small
recess dimensions and dispensing with transverse reinforcement. Due to the predominantly
transversely braced design of VDL, this relatively brittle type of failure is generally not
decisive and is therefore of little practical relevance.

2.2.3.1 Models for the thrust bearing capacity of composite dowel beams

The design of composite dowelists in puzzle (PZ) and clothoid form (CL) is regulated by a
general building authority approval [DIB13], which was developed within the framework of
the FOSTA research project P804 [Fos12], [Fel14] at RWTH Aachen University. In the
following, the rated equations given for the different modes of failure are summarized. The
characteristic value of the longitudinal thrust bearing capacity per composite dowel recess is
given by the smallest value of the equations (2-1) to (2-3). The relevant geometric quantities
are given in Figure 2-3.

The model for the type of failure (2-3) was originally derived from [Hei12] and is based on
approaches for describing the blow-out failure of near-edge fasteners (headbolts). The multi-
axial stress state in the region of the load introduction causes an output force which acts
perpendicular to the acting thrust P. When the concrete tensile strength, which is proportional
to the root of the compressive strength fck, is exceeded, a sloping eruption cone is formed.

1
The surface of the fracture cone depends on the height of the punching cone hpo, taking into
account the scale influence. The favorable influence of a transverse reinforcement in the
dowel is taken into account by a factor which is dependent on the degree of cross-bracing.
This model was expanded in the abZ by the factors χx and χy to take into account overlapping
punching cones. The characteristic value of the longitudinal thrust bearing capacity for
punching Ppo, k is given by (2-3). Further models have been proposed by SEIDL [Sei09] and
ZAPFE [Zap01].

For the bending buckling failure of the steel anchor, the rating equation (2-2) is contained in
the abZ [DIB13]. The model for the determination of the thrust bearing capacity Ppl, k which
is based on the approach considers a critical section with variable width and height position
above the dowel base in which the transmitted thrust forces and bending moments lead to the
formation of a Mises flow condition. The dimensions of the critical section can be determined
by solving an extreme value problem of decreasing lever arm and increasing thrust force on
the action side as well as the reducing cutting surface on the resistance side. In addition, a
thrust force component can be transmitted below the critical cut in the dowel. After applying
the specific geometric values for the clothoid and the puzzle form (spacing of the recesses ex,
sheet thickness tw), the equation in equation (2-2) is obtained. The theoretical background is
shown for example in [Fos12]. Investigations by LORENC [Lor14] show that the design over
the flow limit provides high safety reserves and that a dimensioning over the tensile strength
results in a better agreement with tests.

The equation for the longitudinal thrust bearing capacity in the shearings Psh, k is based on a
model of [Zap01] for combinatorial units and is composed of the squared recess distance ex in
the longitudinal direction and the concrete tensile strength which is proportional to the root of
the compressive strength fck. In addition, the degree of reinforcement ρD and a reduction
factor ηD for the influence of the recess surface as a function of the plug geometry (CL or PZ)
are considered (see (2-1)). In cross-strapped federations, shearing is generally not decisive.

2.2.3.2 Overview of Experimental Investigations

Due to the large number of test series documented in the literature, which have been carried
out on different types of dowels, this work is limited to giving a brief overview of the most
important research work and their results. A detailed compilation of the relevant
investigations contains, for example, [Hei12]. Figure 2-4 summarizes the research carried out
by different researchers at different dübelleists.

The experimental investigation of the shear behavior of birch barkers began with the conduct
of shear tests on a perforated strip called Perfobondleiste by [Leo87], [And85]. This ledge has
closed circular recesses in the steel plate within which concrete pans form (Fig. 2-4,
Perfobondleiste). The failure is characterized by shearing off the concrete. By the combined
arrangement of closed and semi-open recesses in the steel sheet of the Perfobond strip (e.g.,
[Rei03]) or the use of upwardly slotted openings (e.g., [Völ88]), the transverse reinforcement
can be significantly facilitated. This advantage of an upwardly open bar geometry led to the
development of the combi-bar. This has only open-top open recesses with an undercut for
absorbing lifting forces in the composite joint (Fig. 2-4, combination bellow). Experimental
investigations of [Bod89], [Kra92], [Wur98] and [Zap01] were carried out, the failure molds
being determined by dowel shearing, punching and exceeding the partial surface pressure. By
increasing the recess dimensions, a deforming capacity which is increased compared to
perforated strip strips can be achieved in the case of combination bodymarkers. The dowel

2
geometries shown in Fig. 2-4 below are characterized by a continuous cutting guide. This
makes possible a particularly material-efficient production of the composite dowel strip,
which is virtually free from blanks. In addition to improved material efficiency, VDLs have a
very high load-bearing capacity with a generally sufficient deformation capacity, with
continuous sectioning in normal-strength concrete (for example, [Man03], [Hau03], [Sei09])
and high and ultrahigh-strength concrete [Hei12]. In addition, improved wear characteristics
of VDL with continuous cut-to-length cut-off compared to sharp-edged combi-combi tendons
have been established, especially with regard to fatigue stress [Fos12].

2.2.4.1 Anchors with head bolts

tensile behavior

The bearing behavior of head bolts under tensile stress is described in detail by
ELIGEHAUSEN [Eli00]. It is characterized by the failure modes extraction, splitting, steel
failure and concrete excavation. Concerning the contents of this thesis, the concrete failure
failure is of particular interest. It occurs with a sufficiently large undercut of the dowel head
and is characterized by a relatively brittle deformation behavior. In this case, a concrete
eruption cone extending around the dowel in the form of a circular ring forms when the
concrete tensile strength in the fracture surface is exceeded. In studies of ZHAO [Zha95], a
mean inclination angle of the surface area of the break-out cone of 35 ° was determined. In
this case, the diameter of the break-out cone corresponds to the average of the three anchoring
depth (3 ∙ hef).

Figure 2-9 (left) shows the relationship between breaking load and anchoring depth. Under
the assumption, which is true for very small anchoring depths, that the concrete tensile
strength is completely achieved in the entire fracture surface, a square relationship between
breaking load and anchoring depth (plastic stress criterion) results. For larger anchoring
depths, the scale influence causes the fracture load to rise by hef^-0.5 less than the available
fracture surface, so that a dependency of the fracture load of hef^1.5 results [Fuc95]. In
fracture mechanics, this is explained by a linear stress distribution in the fracture crack. The
scale influence is observed in all concrete components with a strain gradient, for example also
in plates and beams under transverse load. The theoretical background for describing the scale
influence and the transition between the plastic stress criterion and linear fracture mechanics
(Fig. 2-9, right above) were described by BAZANT, for example. In [Baz84] and translated
into [Eli05] on head pin dowel. The relationship between breaking load and tensile strength of
the concrete is usually described in the fastening technique by the square root of the concrete
compressive strength fc^0.5.

3
The full breaking load of a tension-loaded head bolt dowel can only be adjusted if a
sufficiently large concrete surface is available for anchoring. When a plurality of composite
materials are arranged at a small distance, the break-out cones of the individual composite
materials overlap or form a joint concrete fracture body, as a result of which the breaking load
drops towards the possible maximum value. If there is an overlap of the break-out cones
(spacing of the composite means <3 hef), the break-out load of the dowel group can be
calculated using the so-called CC method (Concrete-Capacity method). In this case, the
projected break-out conical surface of the dowel group is referred to the conical surface of a
single composite material and multiplied by its tensile capacity.

The anchoring capacity of head bolt anchors is influenced by cracking in the concrete. A test
position for investigating the tensile load behavior of KBD in the cracked concrete is shown
in Fig. 2-9 (left, bottom). In this case, a constant tensile force is applied to the reinforcement,
which is led out of the concrete slab, so that cracking occurs in the concrete belt. Via riser
lead sheets, it is ensured that the crack crosses the composite. The tensile force is then applied
to the dowel with the cracks open. In this case, the pull-out device is supported annularly
around the KBD against the concrete slab. Compared to uncracked test specimens, generally
flatter load forming curves with lower stiffness and reduced load bearing capacity are
produced. For a crack width of 0.3 - 0.4 mm, specific break-out loads between 50% and 100%

4
of the uncracked test are achieved. On average, a reduction to 75% of the fracture load in
uncracked concrete results. In Figure 2-9 (right, bottom), the relationship between the load
applied to the breaking load of the uncracked test and the crack propagation during the test is
plotted.

The influence of the crack formation can be illustrated by a model presentation given in
[Reh88] (Fig. 2-9, right). While in the case of fastenings in the undisturbed anchor base there
is a rotationally symmetrical stress distribution around the composite material, in which the
balance to the pull-out force is formed by ring tensile forces, these ring pulling forces can not
be transmitted in the cracked concrete so that the concrete surface available for the tension
transmission is reduced and the breaking load decreases. In addition, cracks can lead to a cut-
off of the break-out body in addition to the composite material [Reh88]. In [Eli92] nonlinear
finite element calculations have shown that only the stress distribution (disturbed ring tensile
stresses) changes as a result of crack formation, whereas the shape of the breakout cone does
not deviate substantially from the uncracked state. The dependence of the breaking load on
hef 1.5 therefore also applies to the cracked state.

In fastening technology different approaches are used for the dimensioning of anchors, which
usually only depend on the parameters concrete strength and anchoring depth. The anchoring
depth is square or with the exponent 1.5. Particularly in the case of anchorages with large
embedment depths, the models with hef 1.5 are preferred, since they take account of the scale
influence. The part 4 of the Eurocode 2 [CEN16], which is currently under preparation,
provides the following design equation (2-5) for anchorages. The risk is influenced by a
reduction of 70% in relation to an unfrowned dowel base.

5
3.3 Models for the thrust bearing capacity of composite dowel beams with punching
failure

3.3.1 Development of a uniform engineering model for the punching capacity in cracked
and uncracked concrete

3.3.1.1 General information

According to the results of the experimental investigations, the VDL shows basically the same
supporting mechanisms as in uncracked concrete in cross-torn concrete slabs during die-
cutting. Taking into account the fact that transverse cracks in the concrete act as limitations of
the break-out cone, on which a force transmission is effected only by cracking, the known
die-cutting models can be extended to an application in cracked concrete. For this reason, the
punch-out model contained in the abZ for VDL [DIB13] is used as the basis for the
development of a model extended to include risks. In the following, the mechanical principles
of the die-cut model are first described and the expansion for the cross-torn concrete is
presented.

3.3.1.2 Die-cutting model for uncracked concrete

6
The punch-out model contained in the abZ for VDL was developed in its original form in
[Hei12] and is based on models for describing the blow-out failure of near-edge fasteners
[Eli00], [Fur91]. Figure 3-10 illustrates the load-bearing mechanisms acting on the composite.
The transverse expansions resulting from the multi-axial stress state in the composite means
recess cause an output force acting perpendicular to the thrust load in the direction of the
smallest concrete covering, which is (1 / ) times the applied thrust force. The thrust force
Ppo leading to the punching can thus be determined from the maximum absorbable output
force Tpo (3-1):

The deflection factor (1 / ) for determining the output force depends on the transverse
expansion behavior of the multi-axial stressed concrete in the composite dowel recess. The
constriction state has a great influence on the transverse extensions of the concrete. High
churning degrees, e.g. By a large concrete covering of the composite material and a high
stiffness of the steel dowel, lead to a cross-strain prevention. For this purpose, steel dowel
geometries are also included which optimally surround the concrete in the recess. The
resulting transverse expansion impediment causes an increase in the deflection factor (1 / ).
In the present model, the concrete cover and the steel plug geometry do not explicitly enter
the deflection factor. This simplifies the handling of the model, but makes the uniform
representation of the bearing behavior of different anchor shapes, heights and embedment
depth more difficult.

An additional constricting effect can be achieved by the inclusion of the composite dowel
strip with eyeglass frames or the insertion of transverse reinforcement into the dowel recesses.
The model takes account of the stress-increasing traction part of the transverse reinforcement
by means of the increase factor (1 + ρD, i), which depends on the ideal transverse deflection
degree ρD, i.

In addition to the tensioning effect, the concrete strength also has an influence on the
development of the transverse extensions in the dowel recess. In the case of high-strength
concreting, the increase in strength caused by a multi-axial compressive stress is less
pronounced than in normal-strength concrete [Spe08]. Accordingly, the deflection factor (1 /
) has smaller values for the high-strength and ultra-high-strength concrete than in the
normal-strength concrete. The influence of the concrete strength is taken into account in the

7
determination of the deflection factor of [Hei12] by Equation (3-2). Equation (3-3) shows the
approach extended by the influence of transverse reinforcement:

The punching of the fracture body occurs when the tensile strength of the concrete in the
fracture surface is exceeded. The detachable output force Tpo thus depends on the tensile
strength of the concrete and the size of the shell surface of the break-out body. The concrete
tensile strength is assumed to be proportional to the root of the compressive strength fck. In
the CC method for near-edge fasteners with blow-out failure, the break-out conical surface is
approximated with a square of the edge length 6 hpo [Fur91]. This assumption is assumed for
the punching out of composite dowelists. The break-out surface thus depends on the square of
the break-out cone height hpo. Here, hpo for dowel geometries according to abZ is described
by equation (3-4):

For very small break-out cone heights where the stresses in the shell surface reach the tensile
strength of the concrete almost completely, the absorbable output force Tpo is proportional to
the product [sqrt(fc) x hpo^2]. In the case of larger embedding depths and constructional loads,
on the other hand, a stress distribution occurs in the fracture surface in which the tensile
strength is achieved only in the cracking process zone and decreases along the crack surface
towards the concrete surface. The resulting scale effect leads to a dependence on hpo^1.5
instead of hpo^2. Taking into account the constants k (conversion of the strength and the
breakaway cone geometry), equation (3-5) results for the determination of Tpo:

3.3.3.1 General

For the transfer of engineering models (mean value level) into design equations, the semi-
probabilistic safety concept anchored in the design standards can generally be used. This is to
be assigned to the Level I procedure, where the required reliability is achieved by using
partial safety factors instead of a direct comparison from the existing safety index to the target
value of the safety index. The statistical character of the variable is reduced to its
characteristic value during this procedure. To convert the engineer model from the mean level
to the characteristic level, the 5% quantile is determined at which only 5% of the experimental
data is overestimated by the model. By the subsequent reduction of the characteristic

8
resistance function with the partial safety factor, this becomes the design equation. The partial
safety factor takes into account, on the one hand, the uncertainty of the model and, on the
other, the variations of the basic variables, e.g. the material strengths and geometric sizes. The
partial safety factors on the resistance side are specified in the relevant design standard (for
composite construction EC4, for concrete construction EC2) or in the specialist literature on
the required target values of the safety index. The partial safety factor γV for composites
specified in EC4 is recommended at 1.25 and applies to headed studs. However, it is
questionable whether this partial safety factor for composite dowel strips with punching
failure can be adopted. The failure characteristic of punching clearly differs69 from failure of
headed bolt dowels and is phenomenologically attributable to concrete burst failure, where
higher partial safety coefficients (e.g., γMc = 1.5 in [CEN16]) are generally recommended.
Therefore, the calibration of the approach using the semi-probabilistic safety concept with γV
= 1.25 might lead to uncertain results.

3.3.3.2 Dimensioning equation for punching VDL in non-cracked concrete

With higher order methods (Level II and Level III methods) it is possible to determine and
calibrate the partial safety factors for the Level I methods. For limit state functions
constructed as product approaches from independent base variables (eg, punching composite
dowel strips in non-cracked concrete), e.g. method D from EC0 [DIN11b] is used. This is
attributed to the Level II method, in which the probability of failure is checked by
approximate solutions for the nonlinear limit state function assuming (log) normally
distributed random variables [Ric09]. Already in [Fos12], [Hei12] the method was used to
derive design equations for composite dowel strips.

In this work, the derivation of the partial safety factor for the punching failure is repeated
using the updated database for VDL in non-cracked concrete (3.3.2). As in the research
project P804 [Fos12], assumptions and preliminary information from the literature are used
for the coefficients of variation of the basic variables. The reduction factors ??, ?? and the
ideal degree of reinforcement ρD, i are assumed to be deterministic and only the variance of
the basic variables concrete compressive strength and punching cone height are taken into
account. The evaluations are carried out for the strength class C45 / 55 (??, ?? = 0,096)
[JCS02]. For the coefficient of variation of the Ausstanzkegelhöhe is assumed based on
ZAPFE [Zap01] ??, = 0.02. By adopting the procedure from [Fos12], consistency with the
design concept of abZ [DIB13] is ensured.

The determination of the partial safety factor is summarized in Table 3-4. After average value
correction of the limit state function and determination of the statistical parameters standard
deviation and variation coefficient assuming log-normally distributed random variables (step
I), possible errors of the different model input variables (basic variables) are taken into
account in step II. The specific coefficients of variation of the basic variables ??,? (here ??, ??
= 0.096 and ??, = 0.02) are weighted by their partial derivatives (factor 0.5 for the concrete
compressive strength and factor 1.5 for the ejection cone height) in the determination of the
coefficient of variation ?? Then, the characteristic values of the limit state function can be
determined as 5% fractiles and the design values of the limit state function as 0.1% fractiles
(step III).

The sought partial safety factor results from the ratio of the characteristic level to the design
level of the limit state function (step IV). With γpo = 1.39, the partial safety factor calculated
here is below the value determined in [Fos12] (γpo = 1.48) because the tests on perforated

9
strips are removed from the database and further tests with PZ and CL form are added to the
database were.

10