ANCHOR BOLTS AND EMBEDMENTS - McGraw-Hill Education - Access Engineering

11/8/21, 12:36 PM ANCHOR BOLTS AND EMBEDMENTS | McGraw-Hill Education - Access Engineering
13. ANCHOR BOLTS AND EMBEDMENTS

13.1. ANCHOR BOLTS: GENERAL
13.1.1. Introduction
Anchor bolts cross the interface between the metal building system and its foundation, forming a
crucial link between the domains of the metal building manufacturer and the foundation designer.
As discussed in Chaps. 9 (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/4c374054106985ad) and 10 (/mhe-
lookup/atom-id/7ca423818e9985c5), the building manufacturer's design responsibility extends
down to the bottom of the column base plates. The manufacturer does not design the anchor
bolts that connect the building structure to the foundation. Some of the pitfalls and misconcep-
tions of specifying anchor bolts for metal building systems are addressed in Chap. 10 (/mhe-
lookup/atom-id/7ca423818e9985c5). Here, the focus is primarily on the technical aspects.
13.1.2. The Terms

The term anchor bolts is the most widely used name for these structural elements. The
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) still uses the term, but there are others.
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) calls these devices anchor rods, to avoid con-
fusion with structural bolts used to connect steel elements. The 2012 edition of the International
Building Code (IBC-12)1 uses the terms anchors and embedded bolts. The American Concrete
Institute (ACI 318)2 describes these elements as anchors or cast-in anchors. Since most design
professionals prefer the traditional name anchor bolts, we use it here as well, while occasionally
using the other terms.
13.1.3. Function and Minimum Number

Anchor bolts serve two basic functions:
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1. Positioning the frame column in the proper location and keeping it stable during the erection.
2. Transferring uplift (and sometimes lateral) loads from the column to the foundation. Anchor
bolts have limited capacities to transfer horizontal forces, as discussed below, and for very
large lateral reactions other concrete embedments are more appropriate.
The minimum number of anchor bolts for steel building columns, per OSHA regulations for steel
erection, is four. The only exception made by OSHA Safety and Health Standards for the
Construction Industry, 29 CFR 1926 Part R, Safety Standards for Steel Erection, applies to posts.
OSHA defines a post as an "essentially vertical" structural member that either "(1) weighs 300 lbs
or less and is axially loaded, or (2) is not axially loaded, but is laterally restrained by the above
member." OSHA Paragraph 1926.755(a)(2) requires that the column anchors must be able to re-
sist the tension caused by the bending moment from a person weighing 300 lb located 18 in away
from the face of the column.
Most columns in the primary frames of metal building systems do not qualify as OSHA "posts"
and therefore require a minimum of four anchor bolts. Some lightweight endwall columns and the
framing around doors and windows could be considered "posts" and be connected to the founda-
tion with only two anchors. Prior to the adoption of these OSHA regulations the minimum number
of column anchor bolts was two, and some metal building manufacturers' details still reflect the
old practice.
13.1.4. Construction of Anchor Bolts

Anchor bolts derive their holding strength from bearing of their bent or enlarged ends against con-
crete. Excepting the cases of post-installed adhesive and grouted-in anchors, any contribution of
bond between the bolt shank and concrete is neglected.
Depending on the configuration of their embedded ends, anchors are called L bolts, J bolts,
headed bolts, and bolts with bearing plates at the bottom. Of these, L and J bolts used to be most
popular until it was demonstrated that they were less effective in resisting slip under uplift loading
than headed bolts.3 Hooked anchors tend to fail by pulling out of concrete—a rather unsettling
mode of failure. The bolts with bearing plates at the ends, once the darlings of structural engi-
neers, also fell out of favor once it was recognized that the larger the plate, the bigger the plane of
weakness it introduced into the concrete.
Some authoritative documents advise caution in specifying L and J anchor bolts. For example, ac-
cording to the discussion on p. 14-10 of AISC Steel Construction Manual,4 hooked bolts are appro-
priate only as the means of temporary column support during erection; they may only be used in
columns subjected to axial compression. The L and J bolts should not be used when a calculated
tension exists.

Headed anchors represent today's preferred design. A headed anchor bolt is either a fully treaded
rod or a rod with treaded ends, with a nut at the bottom and a nut at the top (Fig. 13.1). The bot-
tom nut is prevented from slipping off by damaging the threads of the rod, by tack welding, or by
adding another ("jamming") nut at the bottom. A thick square plate washer typically supplements
the top nut, which helps keep it from pulling through the oversized hole in the base plate.
Figure 13.1 Typical headed anchor bolt.
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The anchor bolt steel should conform to a relatively new specification ASTM F1554, Standard
Specification for Anchor Bolts, Steel, 36, 55, and 105-ksi Yield Strength, which has displaced the
earlier ASTM A307. As the title indicates, the new specification includes three grades of steel, but
the most common is still the traditional 36-ksi grade. This grade is relatively inexpensive and
weldable, which is important should field corrections or bolt extensions become necessary. The
higher-strength grade 55 can be safely assumed to be weldable only if special weldability and car-
bon equivalent requirements are met.

The high-strength steel bolts conforming to ASTM A325 or ASTM A490 should not be used for an-
chor bolts. These bolts are appropriate for structural steel-to-steel connections, not for steel-to-
concrete attachments. (To avoid confusing the two products AISC prefers the term anchor rods,
as already noted.) The high-strength bolts are too strong to be used as anchor rods, and their
maximum length is only 8 in, much less than is typically needed for concrete anchors. Another dif-
ference between high-strength structural bolts and mild-steel anchor rods is that the latter are
usually not pre-tensioned. As discussed below, the strength of the anchor material is often less
critical than the strength of concrete that holds the anchor.
13.1.5. Installation of Anchor Bolts

As just stated, anchor bolts are typically used in groups of four, which is the minimum number re-
quired by OSHA for each building column. The bolts are generally placed in concrete with an aid
of a temporary plywood template that maintains the desired spacing between the bolts in the
group. The plywood template is usually nailed to the surrounding concrete formwork to prevent
the anchor group from being displaced during concreting operations.
To make certain that the template is placed in the correct location, we recommend that a regis-
tered surveyor or a field engineer supervise this work. Setting the anchors should not be left to
construction laborers; otherwise, the anchors might end up in the wrong location and will not fit
the corresponding holes in the column base plate. Another step that can be taken to avoid the
mismatch is to survey the final anchor bolt locations prior to fabrication of the primary frames.
AISC Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges5 specifically requires such a survey
for structural-steel buildings. But do these requirements apply to metal building systems? The an-
swer appears to be "yes," because AISC's definition of structural steel includes built-up beams and
columns made of plates—the typical composition of primary frames in pre-engineered buildings.
Also, the anchor rods that receive structural steel are included in the definition of structural steel.
The considerations related to anchor bolt construction and installation are discussed in more de-
tail in a specialized design guide by the author.6
In pre-engineered buildings, anchor bolts are commonly pre-tensioned only to a "snug-tight" condi-
tion, which results in some modest clamping force normally neglected in design. A substantial
amount of tightening is needed only for fixed-base columns, which rely on clamping forces for
moment transfer or for buildings where lateral drift is tightly controlled. As we have stated already,
we generally do not recommend that column fixity be used in metal building systems.
13.2. ANCHOR BOLT LOCATIONS


13.2.1. General Anchor Bolt Layout

As already discussed, the design of anchor bolts belongs in the foundation designer's scope of
work, not the building manufacturer's. Still, the manufacturer generally prepares the anchor bolt
layout and supplements it with its typical column base-plate details. Both require close attention
of the engineer who designs the anchor bolts, and might need some modification if so dictated by
the design of the anchors.
For metal buildings of moderate span and bay sizes with pin-base columns, the most common
number of anchor bolts used to be four for sidewall (frame) columns and two for endwall (and
sometimes interior) columns (Fig. 13.2). As explained in Sec. 13.1.3, OSHA regulations for steel
erection now require a minimum of four anchor bolts at all columns except for "posts." As a result,
some previously standard details may require revision, depending on the weight of the members
(this includes Fig. 13.2, where four anchor bolts should have been used at the interior columns).
Figure 13.2 Typical anchor bolt layout used in the past. (today, osha safety standards for steel
erection generally require four anchor bolts for all frame columns.) (star building systems.)
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Each manufacturer has a standard set of dimensions for anchor bolt placement. The distance
from the edge of concrete depends primarily on the type of girt inset (bypass, flush, or semiflush)
and, for bypass girts, the girt size. (See Fig. 5.43 (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/f07b6ab59203fd4b#ch05fig43) for an illustration of girt insets.) Figure 13.3 shows one
manufacturer's standard dimensions; the distances may be different for other manufacturers, as
shown in the illustrations that follow. Anchor spacing is also standard for each manufacturer.
Figure 13.3 Sample anchor bolt locations at sidewall columns: (a) with flush girts; (b) with
bypass girts. (A&S Building Systems.)

13.2.2. Anchor Bolt Layout at Corner and Fixed-Base

Columns
The anchor bolt layout details at corner columns vary a lot, because different manufacturers use
corner columns of various types (see Sec. 4.11 (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/36dfc84d2e1e208c#c9780071828963ch04lev1sec11) for some of the options). For nonex-

pandable endwalls, a representative detail is shown in Fig. 13.4. Figure 13.5 shows a detail at an
expandable endwall frame.
Figure 13.4 Detail of base plate and anchor bolts at corner endwall columns. (Note that more
than two anchor bolts may be needed.) (Nucor Building Systems.)

Figure 13.5 Base plate and anchor bolts for corner column of endwall rigid frame. (The number
of anchor bolts is determined by design, but most likely is four.) (Nucor Building Systems.)


Fixed-base columns require a large number of anchor bolts, typically eight, to develop end fixity
(Fig. 13.6). Full fixity cannot realistically be provided with closely spaced anchors of Fig. 13.7.
Figure 13.6 Representative anchor bolt layout for a fixed-base column. (Metallic Building
Systems.)


Figure 13.7 Closely spaced anchor bolts are acceptable for pin-base but not for fixed-base
columns.

All of these "standard" dimensions can be readily changed if required. They should not be consid-
ered sacrosanct, as the manufacturers acknowledge—see, for example, a note to this effect on
Fig. 13.3. The author's practice is to provide the minimum bolt edge distances on the contract
drawings, warning the manufacturers that their "standard" details will not be accepted if in conflict
with the contract drawings.
13.3. ANCHOR BOLTS IN COLUMN PEDESTALS

AND AT BRACING LOCATIONS 
13.3.1. Establishing the Sizes of Column Pedestals

As can be seen in various figures of Chap. 12 (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/a2dd1706d6855ec0), metal
building columns are often supported on pedestals (piers). The discussion in Sec. 12.3.3 (/mhe-
lookup/atom-id/a2dd1706d6855ec0#c9780071828963ch12lev2sec03) highlights some typical
challenges that arise when the foundation must be designed before the building manufacturer is
selected. But there is yet another issue to consider in such circumstances—that of the minimum
pedestal size.
It goes without saying that the footprint of the column pedestal should be at least large enough to
allow for a full bearing of the column on it. However, it is difficult to establish the pier size when
the size of the column base plate is not yet known. The pier should be large enough not only to
accommodate the column base plate, but also to provide ample space for concrete placement
around anchor bolts, ties, vertical bars, and formwork. Pier congestion can lead to improper con-
crete placement and structural failure.
The best course of action in this situation is to select a substantial pedestal size (such as 24 by
24 in) and place a prominent note on the contract drawings that the selected manufacturer's base
plates must fit on the pedestals provided. The author was involved in a project where the chief en-
gineer of a large metal building manufacturer insisted that there was nothing on the drawings that
specifically required his company to do so! Despite a generous pedestal size, the manufacturer
had proposed such a large column base that it would overhang the pedestal. In another project,
the shop drawings indicated that a 6-ft-wide column was to bear on a 2-ft-wide pier, apparently to
make a point about the stringent lateral-drift criteria specified in the contract documents.
Similar considerations apply to endwall columns that bear directly on foundation walls. An unfor-
tunate situation of Fig. 13.8 could have been avoided with a proper coordination between the
foundation designer and the metal building manufacturer.
Figure 13.8 A column designed without regard to foundation size.


Column pedestals present a particular set of difficult challenges to the designers of anchor bolts.
First, the overall footprint of the pedestal—even an amply proportioned one—might not be suffi-
cient to provide the required uplift capacity that the column exerts on the anchor bolts. As a re-
sult, supplemental reinforcement, or reliance on the vertical pier bars, might be needed. Second,
the edge distances of the anchors embedded in the pedestals might be too small to develop the
required anchor bolt capacities to resist uplift or horizontal loading. These challenges are exam-
ined in the following sections.
13.3.2. Anchor Bolts at Bracing Locations

As discussed in Chap. 3 (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/279cf71b6b53dbd8), lateral resistance of metal
buildings in the direction perpendicular to the span of the primary frames is typically provided by
means of cross-bracing or portal frames. Both of these impose special requirements on the col-
umn anchors.

When cross-bracing is directly attached to the column web (see Fig. 3.14 (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/279cf71b6b53dbd8#ch03fig14)), the anchor bolts must be designed for a combination of up-
lift and horizontal column reactions that act in two directions. The complications do not stop
here. The design of Fig. 3.14 (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/279cf71b6b53dbd8#ch03fig14) could be
problematic because the bracing is attached directly to a thin column web (see a related discus-
sion in Sec. 3.3.5 (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/279cf71b6b53dbd8#c9780071828963ch03lev2sec15)).
One alternate solution involves avoiding any attachment to the column at all and using the bracing
clips of Fig. 3.19 (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/279cf71b6b53dbd8#ch03fig19). However, there is an of-
ten-overlooked disadvantage to this detail. Because the clips are subjected to uplift and lateral
forces without the benefit of any offsetting column dead load, they must be securely attached di-
rectly to the foundations that are heavy enough and strong enough to resist these forces. The
clips' anchors must develop substantial capacities and be embedded into enlarged foundation
piers that extend well beyond the column areas (Fig. 13.9).
Figure 13.9 Enlarged column pier at foundation bracing clips.


How big should these enlarged piers be? At least big enough to be able to receive the column
base plate, the clips, and to provide adequate edge distances for the anchors. Unfortunately, the
manufacturers' details for this condition are not uniform (Fig. 13.10 shows a detail from one man-
ufacturer). If these details are not available at the time of the foundation design, a conservative
approach that uses a substantial pier size is warranted.
Figure 13.10 Location of bracing clip in relation to frame column. (Corner endwall column is
shown.) (Nucor Building Systems.)

A very similar situation occurs when portal frames are used. Figure 13.11 shows one
manufacturer's anchor bolt layout for that condition.
Figure 13.11 Detail of portal frame base plate. (Nucor Building Systems.) 

13.4. AUTHORITATIVE DOCUMENTS FOR

ANCHOR BOLT DESIGN
13.4.1. International Building Code Provisions for
Headed Anchors
The 2012 edition of the International Building Code (IBC-12) includes some provisions for design-
ing embedded anchors in concrete. IBC-12 Section1908, Anchorage to Concrete—Allowable
Stress Design, applies only to headed bolts and headed stud anchors in normal-weight concrete.
It does not apply to anchors installed in hardened concrete (i.e., post-installed anchors) or to the
anchors designed for earthquake loading. IBC-12 Section1909, Anchorage to Concrete—Strength
Design, applies to the latter.
The IBC provisions assume that the anchors comply with ASTM A307 or an approved equivalent.
This sits well with our earlier recommendation that the anchor-bolt material conform to ASTM
Standard F 1554, Grade 36, as this grade is considered equivalent to ASTM A307.

Table 1908.2 of IBC-12, Allowable Service Loads on Embedded Bolts, includes the allowable ten-
sion (Pt) and shear (Vt) capacities for embedded bolts, depending on the bolt diameter, minimum
embedment depth, spacing, edge distance, and 28-day concrete compressive strength f′c.
For example, for the anchor bolts with 3/4-in diameter, a minimum embedment of 5 in, a spacing
of 9 in, and the edge distance of 4.5 in, placed in concrete with f′c = 3000 psi, Pt = 2250 lb and Vt =
3560 lb. When the edge distance is increased to 7.5 in, while other variables are kept constant, the
capacities increase to Pt = 2950 lb and Vt = 4300 lb. The reason the larger edge distances provide
for larger anchor bolt capacities will become clear after a discussion that follows. In any event, re-
calling the uplift and lateral forces used in the design examples in Chap. 12 (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/a2dd1706d6855ec0), the tabulated capacities are quite modest.
The values listed in IBC-12 Table 1908.2 are permitted to be modified if certain conditions are
met. They may be reduced by 50 percent if the edge distance and spacing are reduced by 50 per-
cent (linear interpolation may be used if the reduction is less than 50 percent). Also, the listed val-
ues may be increased by one-third if allowed by IBC-12 Section 1605.3.2, Alternative Basic Load
Combinations, for wind or seismic loading. Finally, the tabulated values for allowable tension (Pt),
but not shear (Vt), may be increased by 100 percent when special inspection is provided.
For combined shear and tension on anchor bolts, IBC-12 provides the following formula:
where Ps and Vs are applied tension and shear and Pt and Vt are allowable tension and shear.
IBC-12 Section1909, Anchorage to Concrete—Strength Design, specifies that headed bolts,

headed studs, J or L bolts embedded in concrete, as well as post-installed expansion and under-
cut anchors be designed per ACI 318-11 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a),
Anchoring to Concrete. (IBC modifies some provisions of ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-
lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a).) Strength design of anchors that are not within the scope
of ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) must be in accordance with
an approved procedure.
13.4.2. How Applicable Is IBC-12 Table 1908.2 to Metal

Buildings?
As already discussed, the anchor bolts used in pre-engineered buildings are typically spaced
closely together. A grid of 4 by 4 in, or less, is very common, as can be seen in the accompanying
figures. The edge distances are rather small. The IBC-12 Table 1908.2 is based on the larger an-
chor spacing values than is typical in metal building systems. Even for 3/4-in diameter bolt, which

is the smallest common size used for column anchorage, the minimum spacing in the table is 9
in. Reducing it by 50 percent, as IBC allows with the corresponding reduction in the already-mod-
est tabulated capacities, still does not get us to 4 in.
Newman6 provides a design example for using the tabulated anchor bolt capacities and con-
cludes that even the largest listed anchor size (1.25-in diameter) does not work for relatively mi-
nor forces imposed by a pre-engineered building framing. In short, the IBC table is of little value
for use in metal building systems. For practical designs, there is generally little alternative to fol-
lowing the complex procedures of ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a), Anchoring to Concrete.
13.4.3. Designing Anchor Bolts per ACI 318 Appendix D

(/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a)
The methodology of ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) is based on
the Concrete Capacity Design (CCD) method, although following other models in agreement with
test results is allowed. The first version of ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) appeared in the 2002, and its provisions have been changing in every edi-
tion of ACI 318 ever since. The specific design provisions depend on several factors, such as the
type of applied loading (e.g., earthquake loading triggers a particular set of requirements), rigidity
of the base plate, and the embedment length of the anchor.
ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) covers the design of both cast-

in anchors and post-installed anchors; the latter must be qualified by a testing program outlined in
ACI 355.2, Qualification of Post-Installed Mechanical Anchors in Concrete & Commentary. ACI 318
Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) does not cover adhesive/grouted an-
chors, through-bolts, specialty inserts, and multiple anchors connected to a single steel plate at
the embedded end. It also does not cover powder-actuated anchors and the anchors used mostly
for high-cycle fatigue or impact loading.
ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) considers the following limit

states:
Steel strength of anchor in tension and in shear
Concrete breakout strength of anchor in tension and in shear
Pullout strength of anchor in tension
Concrete side-face blowout strength in tension
Concrete pryout strength in shear


Splitting failure of concrete
The following sections briefly describe the procedures for designing anchor bolts for tension and
for horizontal (shear) forces.
13.4.4. Minimum Anchor Edge Distances and Spacing

per ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a)
As already discussed, the holding capacities of embedded anchors depend in part on their edge
distances and spacing. In addition to a multitude of formulas and design provisions where these
variables are present, ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) also in-
cludes some minimum requirements for anchor edge distances and spacing (Section D.8 in ACI
318-11). Both are measured to the centerlines of anchors. These minimum requirements are in-
tended to preclude concrete splitting under load; they could be relaxed if supplementary reinforc-
ing is provided to control splitting (see a discussion in Sec. 13.5.4) or if the product-specific tests
allow.
Pre-tensioning ("torquing") the anchors increases a possibility of splitting failure in concrete, and
Section D.8 of ACI 318-11 specifies a larger minimum spacing for anchor bolts that are "torqued."
The minimum spacing of cast-in anchors that are not torqued is 4da (where da is bolt diameter),
but it is 6da for torqued cast-in anchors and post-installed anchors. In most metal buildings the
anchors should not be torqued.
What about the common anchor spacing of 4 in? Using these provisions, only the anchor bolts not
exceeding 1 in in diameter would qualify. For larger anchor diameters, either the spacing must be
increased or supplementary anchor reinforcing must be provided.
Similarly, the minimum edge-distance requirements depend on whether the cast-in anchor bolts
are torqued or not. For the former, the minimum edge distance is 6da; for the latter, it is equal to
the minimum cover requirement of ACI 318 Section 7.7 (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/7854cdbe72e64157#c9780071828963ch07lev1sec07), which is 2 in for concrete exposed to
earth or forms. Special provisions apply to post-installed anchors.
It seems the days of placing huge anchor bolts close together and to the edge of concrete are be-
hind us. However, provisions of Section D.8 allow for using non-conforming cast-in bolts that are
not torqued and do not produce splitting forces during their installation. Instead of using the full
bolt diameter da, a reduced diameter da′ may be used, where the reduced diameter meets the
spacing and edge-distance provisions.

13.5. DESIGN OF ANCHOR BOLTS FOR TENSION

PER ACI 318 APPENDIX D (/mhe-lookup/atom-
13.5.1. General Provisions
A single embedded headed anchor or a group of anchors subjected to a tensile load can fail in
one of three ways:
1. The tensile capacity of the anchors could be insufficient, leading to their fracture.
2. Concrete around the anchors could fracture and break off in a number of specific failure
modes.
3. The anchors could pull out of concrete.
It is easy to increase the tensile capacity of the steel anchors by simply using as many and as
large bolts as required by design, but it is rather difficult to increase concrete capacity.
Accordingly, it is much easier to determine the size, number, and spacing of anchor bolts—a task
normally performed by a metal building manufacturer—than to develop those bolts in concrete, a
task left to the foundation engineer. This means that the manufacturer's typical base plate details
should be developed in response to the foundation designer's requirements—the exact opposite
of what often happens.
Some specific design procedures of ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-

id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a), which are intended to forestall all three types of failure, are examined
next.
13.5.2. Tensile Capacity of Steel Anchors

ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) provides the following equation
for determination of the nominal tensile strength of anchors:
where
Nsa = nominal strength of anchor in tension, governed by steel capacity
n = number of anchors in the group


Ase,N = effective area of an anchor in tension, in2
futa = specified tensile strength of anchor material
Here, futa is limited to the smaller of 1.9fya or 125,000 psi, where fya is the specified yield strength
of anchor steel. (For the anchor bolts made of steel conforming to ASTM F1554 Gr. 36, steel futa =
58,000 psi, this check does not control.)
The effective area of an anchor in tension Ase,N (which is the same as Ase,V discussed below) and
the bearing area for a heavy-hex bolt head or nut, Abrg, are listed in Table 13.1.
Table 13.1 Values of Ase,N (which is the same as Ase,V) and Abrg for Commonly Used Anchor
Diameters
Anchor Bolt Diameter, in Ase,N and Ase,V Abrg
3/4 0.334 0.911
7/8 0.462 1.188
1 0.606 1.501
1 1/8 0.763 1.851
1 1/4 0.969 2.237
SOURCE: PCA.7
 Open in new tab (/mhe-lookup/tab-link/ch13table01/6366045)
 Download data (/mhe-lookup/download-link/ch13table01/6366045)

Multiplying the nominal strength thus determined by a strength reduction factor ϕ converts the
nominal strength of anchors into the design strength. The strength reduction factor is:
The anchor bolts conforming to ASTM F 1554 Gr. 36 steel are considered ductile elements and ϕ
= 0.75 may be used. To illustrate using the formula, the design tensile strength of four anchor
bolts with 3/4-in diameter is:

13.5.3. Concrete Capacity in Tension

ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) assumes that a single cast-in
headed anchor located well away from the edge will develop a concrete breakout prism shown in
Fig. 13.12a. The distance from the top of concrete to the top of the bottom nut is called the effec-
tive embedment depth (hef). The projected area of the breakout prism is assumed to be a square
with the sides equal to 3hef (Fig. 13.12b).
Figure 13.12 Concrete breakout prism for a single headed anchor bolt: (a) section; (b) assumed
projected area.


However, in typical metal building foundations the anchor bolts are spaced rather closely, and
each anchor cannot develop its full concrete breakout prism. As a result, a truncated surface
made of overlapping partial concrete prisms is developed. The resulting failure surface is gener-
ally larger than the surface of the concrete breakout prism for a single anchor but smaller than a
sum of four such surfaces. The main factors for finding the combined projected area of the break-
out prism are the anchor's effective embedment depth (hef), the edge distance, and the spacing.

The design requirements for this limit state are quite complex, likely to change in the future, and
therefore are not reproduced here. In general, concrete capacity under tensile loading can be con-
trolled by the limit states of concrete breakout in tension or concrete side-face blowout. Of the
two limit states, the design provisions for concrete breakout in tension are particularly cumber-
some. The reader is encouraged to review the full text of ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a), including the Commentary, before embarking on the design, as some pro-
visions could be interpreted in different ways. Also, see Chap. 10 (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/7ca423818e9985c5) in Newman6 for further discussion, practical applications of these provi-
sions, and design examples.
13.5.4. Improving Concrete Capacity under Tensile

Loading with Anchor Reinforcement for Tension
As discussed in Chap. 12 (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/a2dd1706d6855ec0), in many cases metal
building columns are supported on concrete pedestals of limited sizes rather than directly on
large spread footings. Quite often, the concrete breakout strength for anchors in tension is insuffi-
cient to resist the applied tensile loading. To introduce additional tension capacity, supplemental
anchor reinforcement for tension can be used. When anchor reinforcement is specified, its
strength can be used instead of the concrete breakout strength. The ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-
lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) Commentary recommends using the strength reduction fac-
tor ϕ of 0.75 for designing anchor reinforcement for tension.
An example of column pedestal with anchor reinforcement for tension is shown in Fig. 13.13.
Here, a pair of inverted U-shaped dowels is placed symmetrically on each side of the anchor-bolt
group. According to the Commentary, the distance between the anchor bolts and the dowels must
be as small as practical and should not exceed 0.5hef, while the size of the dowels should not ex-
ceed No. 5.
Figure 13.13 Supplemental tension reinforcement with inverted u-shaped dowels.


In Fig. 13.13 the dowels extend the distances L1 and L2, which should be at least equal to the de-
velopment length of the dowel bar hooks, measured from the point of the dowel intersection with
the breakout prism of the anchors. In essence, the tension force is transferred from the anchors
to the supplemental anchor reinforcement and then to the concrete below the breakout prism.
In another design, the anchor bolts are "spliced" in a similar manner with the vertical pier rein-
forcement, rather than with the U-shaped supplemental anchor reinforcement (Fig. 13.14). As in
the previous design, the inclined surface of the breakout prism generated at the top face of each
bottom nut intersects the centerline of an adjacent vertical bar at a certain point. The vertical bar
should extend above and below the point of intersection at least the distance of its development
length Ld. In this model, closely spaced hoop ties help safeguard against concrete splitting.
Figure 13.14 Vertical bars in a column pedestal acting as supplemental anchor reinforcement
for tension.


This design could be useful when the pier cross section is relatively small, or the anchors are
spaced wider than the common 4 in. Otherwise, it might be difficult to comply with the
Commentary provision that the distance between the anchor and pier bar centerlines do not ex-
ceed 0.5hef. Also, the typical sizes of the vertical pier reinforcement exceed No. 5, which also
would not comply. However, since these limits are included in the Commentary, rather than in the
text of the Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) itself, it is not clear whether
engaging the vertical pier reinforcement that is located farther away than the distance 0.5hef from
the anchors and/or has a size larger than No. 5 is prohibited. This design has been successfully
used for many years, and further research might validate its continuing use.
The load path for tension transfer should continue through the foundation. The designer should
ensure that the vertical bars are hooked into the footing, that the embedment length of the hooks
Ldh is sufficient to meet the ACI 318 provisions, and that the overall weight of the foundation is
sufficient to resist the applied uplift force.

13.5.5. Pullout Strength of Anchor Bolts Subjected to

Tension Loading
An anchor bolt could fail simply by pulling out of concrete. To preclude this mode of failure, ACI
318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) provides the following formula to de-
termine the nominal pullout strength of a single anchor in tension:
where
Npn = nominal pullout strength
ψc,P = 1.4 for uncracked concrete (if can be shown by analysis); 1.0 for cracked concrete
Np = 8Abrgf′c for headed bolt or stud
Abrg = net bearing area of the heavy-hex bolt head or nut, in2
For this limit state ϕ = 0.70.
The values of Abrg for typical anchor bolt diameters are listed in Table 13.1. The pullout strength is
a function of concrete crushing under anchor head or nut, thus it does not depend on the embed-
ment length. Typically, it also does not depend on the number of anchors either, as each anchor
can develop its own pullout capacity.
ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) provides another formula for

hooked anchors in pullout, such as J and L bolts. As explained in Sec. 13.1.4, hooked bolts are
particularly susceptible to this mode of failure. They should not be used when a calculated ten-
sion exists. Although Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) does not specifi-
cally state this, AISC Steel Construction Manual4 does.
13.6. DESIGN OF ANCHOR BOLTS FOR SHEAR

PER ACI 318 APPENDIX D (/mhe-lookup/atom-
13.6.1. General
Section D.6 of ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) includes design
provisions for anchors resisting shear loading, as when the anchors must resist horizontal frame
reactions. To be sure, there are practical reasons why anchor bolts sometimes should not be used

for resisting horizontal forces. Chief among them is the fact that anchor bolts are generally placed
within oversized holes in the column base plates and do not bear directly against their edges.
Also, capacity of anchor bolts placed in shear is quite modest; substantial horizontal frame reac-
tions are best resisted by concrete embedments (see Sec. 13.9).
Still, there are circumstances when shear transfer must occur via embedded anchors. The discus-
sion in this section assumes that some steps outlined in Sec. 13.8 to facilitate load transfer have
been taken.
The provisions of ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) Section D.6

consider a number of limit states for shear:
1. Steel strength of anchors in shear
2. Concrete breakout strength in shear
3. Concrete pryout strength in shear
They are examined next.
13.6.2. Steel Strength of Anchors in Shear

ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) contains different provisions for
computing nominal steel strength in shear for headed stud anchors and cast-in headed and
hooked bolts. The top of a cast-in headed stud anchor is welded to a plate or another shape be-
fore its embedment in concrete. Figure 13.15 illustrates cast-in headed studs welded to a com-
mon plate. For headed stud anchors, the nominal steel strength in shear Vsa is
Figure 13.15 Cast-in headed studs welded to a common plate.


where
n = number of anchors in group
Ase,V = effective area of anchor in shear, in2 (same as Ase,N; see Table 13.1 for both)
futa = specified tensile strength of anchor material (as in Sec. 13.5.2)
For anchors made of steel conforming to ASTM F 1554 Gr. 36, futa = 58,000 psi.
For cast-in headed and hooked bolts and some post-installed anchors:
Both of these formulas assume that the embedded plate for headed stud anchors or the base
plate for cast-in headed and hooked bolts bears directly on concrete. If grout pads are used, Vsa is
reduced by multiplying the formulas by a factor of 0.8.
13.6.3. Concrete Capacity in Shear

Concrete capacity in shear can be controlled by either concrete breakout strength or concrete pry-
out strength in shear. The design requirements for these limit states are even more complex than
those for concrete capacity in tension (see Sec. 13.5.3) and are even more likely to change in the
future. Therefore, a multitude of relevant formulas, loading cases, coefficients, and modification
factors is not reproduced here. Indeed, the design provisions for concrete breakout in shear are
the most cumbersome of all in ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a).
We hope they will be simplified in the future editions of ACI 318.
A particularly complex set of provisions applies to a common case where the anchor edge dis-
tance on three or more edges is less than 1.5hef. This case unfortunately applies to most metal
building columns bearing on pedestals.
The reader is encouraged to review the full text of ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a), including the Commentary, before embarking on the design of headed
stud anchors and cast-in headed anchor bolts in shear. Chap. 10 (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/7ca423818e9985c5) in Newman6 provides further discussion, practical applications of these
provisions, and design examples. As demonstrated there, in many practical situations involving
metal building columns concrete breakout strength in shear is insufficient. To meet the loading
requirements, supplemental anchor reinforcement for shear is often needed.

As with supplemental anchor reinforcement for tension, this reinforcement can consist of hooked
dowels placed near the embedded anchors. One possible design, which can be used for metal
building columns bearing on pedestals, is shown in Fig. 13.16. In this design, a pair of double-
hooked No. 4 bars is placed at the top of the pedestal parallel to the direction of the shear force.
The procedure for the design of supplemental shear reinforcement and a design example can be
found in Newman.6
Figure 13.16 Supplemental anchor reinforcement for shear in a column pedestal.

The limit state of concrete pryout involves fracturing the top of concrete near the embedded an-
chor. The design procedure for this limit state can also be found in Newman.6
13.7. DESIGN OF ANCHOR BOLTS FOR

COMBINED TENSION AND SHEAR LOADING PER
ACI 318 APPENDIX D (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) 
The columns in metal building systems often exert both horizontal and vertical reactions on the
foundations. Unless other concrete embedments are used together with anchor bolts, the latter
must be designed for combined tension and shear loading. Section D.7 of ACI 318-11 Appendix D
(/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) includes the design provisions for handling com-
bined loading on anchors.
The interaction of tension and shear loading on anchor bolts can be handled in either one of two
ways, depending on the magnitude of the loads. When the factored shear force does not exceed
20 percent of the design shear strength (Vua ≤ 0.2ϕVn), the effects of the combined loading may
be neglected, so that only the full tension strength ϕNn needs to be considered (ϕNn ≥ Nua).
Similarly, when the factored tension force does not exceed 20 percent of the design tension
strength (Nua ≤ 0.2ϕNn), only the shear strength ϕVn needs to be checked (ϕVn ≥ Vua).
When both factored tension and shear forces exceed 20 percent of their respective design capaci-
ties determined separately (i.e., Vua > 0.2ϕVn and Nua > 0.2ϕNn), the following equation should be
used to find the effects of combined loading:
ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) allows using other interaction

formulas corroborated by tests.
13.8. CAN ANCHOR BOLTS REALLY RESIST

HORIZONTAL COLUMN REACTIONS?
13.8.1. The Conceptual Problem

As already indicated in Sec. 13.6.1, there are practical impediments to having anchor bolts resist-
ing shear loading. One of the biggest problems is the fact that anchor bolts are generally placed
within oversized holes in the column base plates. This means that the anchors do not bear di-
rectly against the edges of the oversized holes, except perhaps on one side.
The oversized holes are provided to accommodate placement tolerances for embedded items in
concrete. Their dimensions are given in AISC Steel Construction Manual.4 The maximum allow-
able sizes of the holes have increased substantially between the 9th edition and the 13th and later
editions of AISC Manual, perhaps reflecting a deteriorating state of accuracy on the construction
site. For example, for a 3/4-in-diameter anchor bolt the maximum hole size was 11/16 in in the
9th edition but 15/16 in in the 13th and 14th editions.

Consider the worst-case scenario when a 3/4-in-diameter anchor bolt touches one side of a
15/16-in-diameter oversized hole, and the horizontal reaction acts toward the anchor. To reach the
anchor and bear against it the column would have to move laterally 9/16 in! This magnitude of lat-
eral movement of the frame seems improbable given the friction force that would have to be over-
come. If the edge of the base plate already happens to bear against one anchor bolt in the direc-
tion of the horizontal force but not others, the first anchor would have to deform laterally by a sub-
stantial amount to bring all the anchors into bearing—again, a rather improbable scenario.
Perhaps for this reason, the American Institute of Steel Construction recommends avoiding resist-
ing shear by anchor rods if possible.8 The Commentary on AISC Specification9 states, "Shear at
the base of a column is seldom resisted by bearing of the column base plate against the anchor
rods."
ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) is silent on the issue of transfer-

ring the load to the anchor bolt via oversized holes in the column base plates. Its design provi-
sions for shear simply assume that the horizontal force arrives to the embedded anchor in some
fashion.
13.8.2. Possible Solution No. 1: Welded Washers

There are certain steps that could be taken to facilitate transfer of horizontal column reactions
from the column base plate to the anchor bolts without reliance on frame movements or bolt de-
formations. One possible approach is to use a thick washer with a regular-size hole (i.e., with a di-
ameter 1/16 in larger than the nominal diameter of the bolt). The washer is placed around the an-
chor bolt under the nut and welded to the top of the base plate (Fig. 13.17).
Figure 13.17 Using welded washer for shear transfer places anchor bolt in bending. (The
drawing assumes that no grout is used under the base plate.)


This design brings the horizontal force directly to the anchor bolt, placing it in double-curvature
bending between the point of the load application (often taken as the mid-thickness of the
washer) and the assumed depth of fixity in concrete. The depth of fixity could be assumed to be
either at the top of concrete or extend some distance below, and various practices exist in this
regard.
For example, AISC Steel Design Guide 1: Base Plate and Anchor Rod Design, 2nd ed.,10 suggests
taking the length for bolt bending as the distance from the middle of the washer to the top of the
grout under the base plate. Presumably, if no grout is present, the distance would extend to the
top of concrete foundation instead (the distance L1 in Fig. 13.17). The distance L1 is thus equal to
the thickness of the base plate plus one-half the thickness of the washer.
Another source, Section 4.2.2.4 of Annex C of ETAG 001, Guideline for European Technical
Approval of Metal Anchors for Use in Concrete,11 suggests extending the bolt's bending length into
the concrete by a distance equal to one-half the anchor diameter (the distance L2 in Fig. 13.17).
The distance L2 is thus equal to the thickness of the base plate plus one-half the thickness of the
washer plus one-half the diameter of the anchor bolt. In yet another approach, which lacks a pub-
lished source but seems reasonable, the distance of 1/4 in would replace one-half the diameter of
the anchor bolt in computing L2.
Whether the distance L1 or L2 is used, and however that distance is determined, the shank of the
anchor bolt can be analyzed for bending using standard AISC flexure formulas. An example in
Newman6 considers a 3/4-in-diameter anchor bolt with a distance L1 of 0.9375 in (a sum of 3/4 in

base plate thickness plus one-half the thickness of a 3/8-in-thick washer) subjected to a horizon-
tal force applied at the top and placed in double-curvature bending. The result: The anchor bolt
can safely resist a force of only 2 kips (service load).
13.8.3. Possible Solution No. 2: Filling the Oversize

Holes
Another possible solution, which presumably alleviates any anchor bending, is to fill the oversized
holes in the base plate with some rigid material. The filler options could include weld metal, steel
shims, nonshrink grout, or epoxy (Fig. 13.18). Of these, epoxy seems to be the best material that
could be reliably installed in the field in this application. The author is not familiar with any pub-
lished authoritative sources that specifically allow or disallow this approach, but it seems reason-
able and has been used in the past (e.g., see Fig. 13.19).
Figure 13.18 Filling the oversized holes in the base plate with epoxy to alleviate anchor bolt
bending.

Figure 13.19 A real-life application of the detail shown in Fig. 13.18.


13.8.4. Possible Solution No. 3: The Newman Anchor

Yet another possible solution to dealing with the problem of oversized holes in the base plates
has been developed by the author (Fig. 13.20). The Newman anchor is an assembly of a plate
with standard holes and four anchor bolts threaded through the plate (Fig. 13.20a). As long as the
thickness of the plate equals or exceeds the thickness of a heavy-hex nut matching the bolt, the
strength of the internal threads should be sufficient to develop the tensile capacity of the bolt. (As
an alternative to using the threaded connection, the anchor bolts could be welded to the plate
above and below the holes.)
Figure 13.20 The Newman anchor: (a) detail of construction; (b) attachment to column.


This assembly, although not specifically mentioned in ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-
id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a), should qualify for the same treatment as if the anchors were welded to
the plate—a design that is beneficial for computing concrete breakout capacity in shear. During
steel erection the column is secured over the anchor bolts is the usual fashion, but then the col-
umn base plate is welded to the assembly plate (Fig. 13.20b). To minimize the effects of any re-
sulting column fixity, welding is best made near the center of the plate along the two sides parallel
to the direction of the shear loading. After welding, the shear loading will be transmitted directly
from the column to the anchors, bypassing the oversized holes in the column base plate. One dis-
advantage of this solution is a lack of adjustability, because the whole Newman anchor assembly
is embedded in concrete. However, the situation is no worse than in a typical installation of a
metal-building frame where no grout exists under the column base plate.
13.9. DESIGN OF CONCRETE EMBEDMENTS

13.9.1. The Embedments Suitable for Metal Building
Systems
As just discussed, the load-resisting capacity of anchor bolts subjected to shear loading is quite
modest, if they can resist this loading at all. Substantial horizontal frame reactions are best re-
sisted by other concrete embedments. The embedments most suitable for this purpose in metal
building systems are: 
1. Shear lugs
2. The Newman Lug developed by the author
3. Recessed column base
The step-by-step design examples for these embedments, and a discussion of some other avail-
able systems, can be found in Newman.6 Our purpose here is to provide a general introduction to
using these elements in pre-engineered buildings.
13.9.2. The Shear Lug

The shear lug consists of a steel plate welded to the bottom of the column base plate. The shear
lug is embedded into a slot formed within the top of the foundation, and the space around it filled
with fluid nonshrink grout after the base is installed. Grout also fills the space under the column
base plate. To provide column stability during steel erection and to fulfill OSHA requirements, the
shear lug is usually accompanied by anchor bolts (Fig. 13.21). The leveling nuts on the anchor
bolts provide for adjustability in the vertical direction; alternatively, shim packs can be used for
this purpose. AISC Steel Design Guide 110 recommends that the thickness of the column base
plate equal the thickness of the shear lug.
Figure 13.21 The shear lug.


Quite familiar to the designers of industrial facilities, shear lugs have recently been gaining popu-
larity in pre-engineered buildings as well. One reason that shear lugs have not seen a wider use in
metal building systems previously is certain difficulties of incorporating them into the standard
detailing and installation practices of the systems. For example, the workers in this area of con-
struction are often unaccustomed not only to forming a precisely placed pocket in concrete, but
even to providing nonshrink grout under the column base plate and inside the pocket.
Another problem: Shear lugs do not work well with closely spaced anchor bolts used in metal
building systems. For example, it is very difficult to place a shear lug between two pairs of anchor
bolts spaced 4 in on centers, a common spacing discussed earlier in this chapter. As demon-
strated in Newman,6 the minimum spacing of anchor bolts that accommodates a reasonably-
sized shear key is 7 in, and the minimum column depth that may be used with shear lugs is 12 in.
(The latter assumes that anchor bolts are placed between the column flanges, as is typical in pre-
engineered buildings.) These minimum sizes are wider than those commonly used by many metal
building manufacturers—another potential complication that must be borne in mind when specify-
ing shear lugs.
Yet another difficulty concerns installing a column with a shear lug pre-welded to the underside of
its base plate. In heavy industrial construction this problem is often sidestepped, as large column
base plate with shear lug is generally fabricated and installed separately from the column. This
allows setting and aligning the base plate easily, and placing fluid nonshrink grout underneath it
and into the concrete slots containing the shear key without incident. The column is welded to the
base plate after the grout has gained the necessary strength. By contrast, in metal building con-
struction the base plates are typically shop-welded to the primary frame columns and installed
with them. A column with a shear lug at the bottom is somewhat difficult to install, since it must
be carefully balanced and threaded onto the anchor bolts.
The design procedure for designing shear lugs can be found in AISC Steel Design Guide 1.10 In
general, the procedure involves the following steps:
1. Determination of the shear lug dimensions, as governed by the limit state of concrete bearing
against the lug.
2. Checking the shear capacity of concrete loaded by the shear lug. (This procedure is provided
in ACI 349-06.12)
3. Designing the steel section of the shear lug and the welds connecting it to the base plate.
A step-by-step design example adapted specifically for metal buildings is included in Newman.6

13.9.3. The Newman Lug

The Newman Lug consists of a separate plate with shop-welded shear lug. It is placed separately
from the column, as in heavy industrial construction. Once the assembly is aligned and grouted,
the metal-building column is welded to the top of the embedded plate (Fig. 13.22). The design of
the Newman Lug itself proceeds no differently than for a shear lug welded to the base plate.
Figure 13.22 Metal building column welded to Newman Lug.

This simple and practical solution has been developed by the author to minimize the problems of
using shear lugs in pre-engineered buildings. As noted in the previous section, these challenges
include a certain complexity of the erection process of a column that does not have a flat bottom.
The Newman Lug simplifies column erection by eliminating shop-welded shear lug at the bottom.
It also preserves the oversized holes in the column base plates, and the column is placed over the
anchor bolts in the usual manner. The thickness of the column base plate need not depend on the
thickness of the shear lug.
As with the Newman anchor (see Sec. 13.8.4), welding between the column base plate and the
Newman Lug assembly is made near the center of the plate along the two sides parallel to the di-
rection of the shear loading, to minimize the effects of any resulting column fixity. The welds are 
designed to transfer horizontal column reactions only; the anchor bolts resist uplift. The oversized
holes in the column base plate present no more problems.
13.9.4. Recessed Column Base

Recessed column base functions on the same principle as the shear lug—by transferring horizon-
tal forces into the foundation by bearing of an embedded shape against concrete. The difference
lies in the nature of the embedded shape: Instead of the shear lug's plate, here it consists of the
column flange and the base plate. The recessed column base obviously requires a much larger
pocket than a narrow slot for a shear lug, and thus works best when placed into large founda-
tions. As with shear lug, the pocket is filled with nonshrink grout after the column base is verti-
cally aligned by leveling nuts or shim pack Fig. 13.23).
Figure 13.23 Recessed column base.

One major advantage of the recessed column base for metal buildings is that it works with closely
spaced anchor bolts, something a shear lug cannot do. One theoretical disadvantage involves a
certain degree of column fixity that might develop when the column base is embedded a substan- 
tial amount. Another is a potential for grout damage caused by a slight rocking movement of the
column base under varying loading levels.
The design procedure for the recessed column base parallels that for the shear lug. The depth of
embedment is determined first, as controlled by the limit state of concrete bearing against the
embedded base (ACI 318-11 Section 10.14), followed by checking the limit state of concrete
shear (ACI 349-0612 Section D.11). The bearing resistance of the column flange and the bearing
plate can be computed separately (see Fig. 13.23):
The detailed design procedure for the recessed column base, as well as a design example, is pro-
vided in Newman.6
13.10. REFERENCES
1. International Building Code, International Code Council, Country Club Hills, IL, 2012.
2. ACI Committee 318, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (318-11) and
Commentary (318R-11), American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 2011.
3. D. W. Lee and J. E. Breen, "Factors Affecting Anchor Bolt Development," Research Report 88-
1F, Project 3-5-65-88, Cooperative Highway Research Program with Texas Highway
Department and U.S. Bureau of Public Road, Center for Highway Research, University of
Texas, Austin, TX, August 1966.
4. AISC Steel Construction Manual, 14th ed., American Institute of Steel Construction, Chicago,
IL, 2010.
5. AISC 303-10, Code of Standard Practice for Steel Buildings and Bridges, American Institute of
Steel Construction, Chicago, IL, 2010.
6. Alexander Newman, Foundation and Anchor Guide for Metal Building Systems, McGraw-Hill,
New York, NY, 2013.
7. PCA Notes on ACI 318-08, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, Portland
Cement Association, Skokie, IL, 2008.
8. Sergio Zoruba, Answer in Steel Interchange, Modern Steel Construction, April 2006.
9. AISC Commentary on the Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, American Institute of
10. AISC Steel Design Guide 1: Base Plate and Anchor Rod Design, 2d ed., American Institute of

11. ETAG 001, Guideline for European Technical Approval of Metal Anchors for Use in Concrete,
available at http://www.ue.itb.pl/files/ue/etag/etag_001_annex_c.pdf
(http://www.ue.itb.pl/files/ue/etag/etag_001_annex_c.pdf).
12. ACI 349-06 Code Requirements for Nuclear Safety-Related Concrete Structures and
Commentary, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI, 2006.
13.11. REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of headed and L-shaped anchor bolts.
2. Why is the recessed column base most appropriate for large foundations?
3. Which limit states for anchors placed in shear are considered in ACI 318-11 Appendix D
(/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a)?
4. List at least two approaches that could be followed to establish the length of an anchor bolt
placed in bending under shear loading when the plate washer is welded to the top of the base
plate.
5. Who is responsible for anchor bolt design, including establishing the minimum edge
distances?
6. List the advantages and disadvantages of shear lugs used in metal building systems.
7. Is the limit state of pullout strength of anchor applicable to the anchors places in shear?
8. Name two kinds of lateral-load-resisting elements placed in sidewalls of pre-engineered

buildings that may require enlarged column piers.
9. How does the type of girt inset (bypass, flush, or semiflush) affect the design of anchor
bolts?
10. Does ACI 318-11 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) explicitly consider

bending of anchor bolts beyond using the coefficient of 0.8 for grout pads?


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13. ANCHOR BOLTS AND EMBEDMENTS

13.1.2. The Terms

13.1.3. Function and Minimum Number

13.1.4. Construction of Anchor Bolts

Figure 13.1 Typical headed anchor bolt.

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13.1.5. Installation of Anchor Bolts

13.2. ANCHOR BOLT LOCATIONS

13.2.1. General Anchor Bolt Layout

 Exit Focus View

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13.2.2. Anchor Bolt Layout at Corner and Fixed-Base

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13.3. ANCHOR BOLTS IN COLUMN PEDESTALS

13.3.1. Establishing the Sizes of Column Pedestals

Figure 13.8 A column designed without regard to foundation size.

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13.3.2. Anchor Bolts at Bracing Locations

Figure 13.9 Enlarged column pier at foundation bracing clips.

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13.4. AUTHORITATIVE DOCUMENTS FOR

IBC-12 Section1909, Anchorage to Concrete—Strength Design, specifies that headed bolts,

13.4.2. How Applicable Is IBC-12 Table 1908.2 to Metal

13.4.3. Designing Anchor Bolts per ACI 318 Appendix D

ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) covers the design of both cast-

ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-id/8707bc7c1a5ac47a) considers the following limit

Steel strength of anchor in tension and in shear

Concrete breakout strength of anchor in tension and in shear

Pullout strength of anchor in tension

Concrete side-face blowout strength in tension

Concrete pryout strength in shear

Splitting failure of concrete

13.4.4. Minimum Anchor Edge Distances and Spacing

13.5. DESIGN OF ANCHOR BOLTS FOR TENSION

3. The anchors could pull out of concrete.

Some specific design procedures of ACI 318 Appendix D (/mhe-lookup/atom-

13.5.2. Tensile Capacity of Steel Anchors

Nsa = nominal strength of anchor in tension, governed by steel capacity

n = number of anchors in the group

futa = specified tensile strength of anchor material

Anchor Bolt Diameter, in Ase,N and Ase,V Abrg

3/4 0.334 0.911

7/8 0.462 1.188

1 1/8 0.763 1.851

1 1/4 0.969 2.237

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13.5.3. Concrete Capacity in Tension

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13.5.4. Improving Concrete Capacity under Tensile

Figure 13.13 Supplemental tension reinforcement with inverted u-shaped dowels.

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13.5.5. Pullout Strength of Anchor Bolts Subjected to

Npn = nominal pullout strength

Np = 8Abrgf′c for headed bolt or stud