13.03.

2023 10:29 Code-check of anchors (EN) | IDEA StatiCa

KNOWLEDGE BASE

Code-check of anchors (EN)

The anchor bolt resistances are evaluated according to EN 1992-4, Cl. 7.2 for headed and post-installed anchors. Pull-
out failure of straight anchors, combined pull-out and concrete failure of bonded anchors, and concrete splitting failure
are not checked due to missing information available only for the particular anchor and glue type from the anchor
manufacturer.

In the Code setup, settings are available to activate/deactivate concrete cone breakout checks in tension and shear. If
the concrete cone breakout check is not activated, it is assumed that the dedicated reinforcement is designed to resist
the force. The magnitude of the force is provided in formulas. Furthermore, the concrete can be set as cracked or
untracked. The resistances of uncracked concrete are higher.

Tensile steel resistance (EN 1992-4, Cl. 7.2.1.3):

NRk,s
NRd,s =
​

​ ​

γM s ​

where:

NRk,s = c ∙ As ∙ fuk – characteristic resistance of a fastener in case of steel failure

c – decrease in tensile resistance of bolts with cut thread according to EN 1993-1-8 – Cl. 3.6.1. (3) editable in Code
setup
As – anchor bolt tensile stress area
fuk – anchor bolt characteristic ultimate tensile strength

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fuk
γM s = 1.2 ⋅
​

fyk
​

​
​ ≥ 1.4 – partial safety factor for steel failure in tension (EN 1992-4, Table 4.1)
fyk – anchor bolt characteristic yield strength

Concrete cone failure resistance of anchor or group of anchors (EN 1992-4, Cl. 7.2.1.4):
NRk,c
NRd,c =
​

​ ​

γM c​

where:
0 Ac,N
NRk,c = NRk,c ⋅ ⋅ ψs,N ⋅ ψre,N ⋅ ψec,N ⋅ ψM ,N – characteristic resistance of a fastener, a group of fasteners
​

A0c,N
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

and the tensioned fasteners of a group of fasteners in case of concrete cone failure
0
NRk,c = k1 fck h1.5
ef – characteristic resistance of a single fastener placed in concrete and not influenced by
​ ​ ​ ​

adjacent fasteners or edges of the concrete member

k1 – factor taking into account concrete condition and anchor type; for cast-in headed anchors (with washer plates)
k1 = 8.9 for cracked concrete and k1 = 12.7 for non-cracked concrete; for post-installed fasteners (straight anchors)
k1 = 7.7 for cracked concrete and k1 = 11.0 for non-cracked concrete
fck – characteristic concrete compressive cylinder strength
hef – embedment depth of the anchor in concrete; for three or more close edges, EN 1992-4, Cl. 7.2.1.4 (8) applies
and effective h′ef ​ = max { cccr,N
max
⋅ hef , ​

​
​ ​
smax
scr,N
​

​
​ ⋅ hef } is used instead in formulas for NRk,c0, ccr,N, scr,N, Ac,N, Ac,N0,
​

ψs,N, and ψec,N

Ac,N – actual projected area, limited by overlapping concrete cones of adjacent fasteners as well as by edges of the
concrete member
Ac,N0 = scr,N2 – reference projected area, i.e. area of concrete of an individual anchor with large spacing and edge
distance at the concrete surface
ψs,N = 0.7 + 0.3 ⋅
​
c
ccr,N ​
​ ≤ 1 – factor taking into account disturbance of the distribution of stresses in the
concrete due to the proximity of an edge of the concrete member
c – smallest edge distance
ccr,N = 1.5 ∙ hef – characteristic edge distance for ensuring the transmission of the characteristic resistance of an
anchor in case of concrete break-out under tension loading
hef
ψre,N = 0.5 + ≤ 1 – shell spalling factor
​

200
​ ​

1
ψec,N = ​

1+2⋅(eN /scr,N ) ​ ​
​ ≤ 1 – factor taking into account group effect when different tension loads are acting on
the individual fasteners of a group; ψec,N is determined separately for each direction and the product of both factors
is used
eN – eccentricity of resultant tension force of tensioned fasteners in respect to the center of gravity of the
tensioned fasteners
scr,N = 2 ∙ ccr,N – characteristic spacing of anchors to ensure the characteristic resistance of the anchors in case of
concrete cone failure under tension load
ψM ,N = 2 − ​
z
1.5⋅hef ​
​ ≥ 1 – factor taking into account effect of a compression force between fixture and concrete
in cases of bending moments with or without axial force; this parameter is equal to 1 if c < 1.5 hef or the ratio of

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the compressive force (including the compression due to bending) to the sum of tensile forces in anchors is smaller
than 0.8 or z / hef ≥ 1.5
z – internal lever arm of a fastening
γMc = γc ∙ γinst – partial safety factor (EN 1992-4, Table 4.1)
γc – partial safety factor for concrete (editable in Code setup)
γinst – partial safety factor taking account of the installation safety of an anchor system (editable in Code setup)

The concrete breakout cone area for a group of anchors loaded by tension that creates a common concrete cone, Ac,N,
is shown by the red dashed line.

Pull-out resistance (EN 1992-4, Cl. 7.2.1.5)

Pull-out resistance is checked for anchors with washer plates according to EN 1992-4, Cl. 7.2.1.5:

NRk,p
NRd,p =
​

​ ​

γM c ​

where:

NRk,p = k2 ∙ Ah ∙ fck – characteristic resistance in case of pull-out failure

k2 – coefficient dependent on concrete condition, k2 = 7.5 for cracked concrete, k2 = 10.5 for non-cracked concrete
Ah – bearing area of head of anchor; for circular washer plate Ah ​ = π
4
​ (d2h − d2 ), for rectangular washer plate
​

Ah =​ a2wp ​ − π 2
4
​d
dh ≤ 6 th + d – diameter of the head of the fastener
th – thickness of the head of the headed fastener
d – diameter of the shank of the fastener
fck – characteristic concrete compressive cylinder strength
γMc = γc ∙ γinst – partial safety factor (EN 1992-4, Table 4.1)

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γc – partial safety factor for concrete (editable in Code setup)

γinst – partial safety factor taking account of the installation safety of an anchor system (editable in Code setup)

The pullout resistance of other types of anchors is not checked and must be guaranteed by the manufacturer.

Concrete blowout resistance (EN 1992-4, Cl. 7.2.1.8)

Blow-out failure is checked for headed anchors (Anchor type – washer) with edge distance c ≤ 0.5 hef according to
EN 1992-4, Cl. 7.2.1.8. Anchors are treated as a group if their spacing near the edge is s ≤ 4 c1. Undercut anchors can
be checked the same way but the value of Ah is unknown in the software. The blow-out failure of undercut anchors can
be determined by selecting a washer plate with the corresponding dimension.

NRk,cb
NRd,cb =
​

​ ​

γM c ​

where:
0 Ac,N b
NRk,cb = NRk,cb ⋅ ⋅ ψs,N b ⋅ ψg,N b ⋅ ψec,N b – characteristic resistance in case of concrete blow-out failure
​

A0c,N b
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

0
NRk,cb = k5 ⋅ c 1 ⋅​ ​ ​ Ah ⋅ ​ fck – characteristic resistance of a single fastener, not influenced by adjacent
fasteners or further edges
Ac,Nb – actual projected area, limited by overlapping concrete break-out bodies of adjacent fasteners as well as by
proximity of edges of the concrete member or the member thickness
Ac,Nb0 = (4 c1)2 – reference projected area of a single fastener with an edge distance equal to c1
ψs,N b = 0.7 + 0.3 2cc21 ≤ 1 – factor taking into account the disturbance of the distribution of stresses in the
​
​

​
​

concrete due to the proximity of a corner of the concrete member

ψg,N b = ​ n + (1 − n) 4cs21 ≥ 1 – factor taking into account group effect
​
​

​
​

1
ψec,N b = ​

1+2eN /scr,N b
​ ​
​ ≤ 1 – factor taking into account group effect, when different loads are acting on the
individual fasteners of a group
k5 – parameter related to the state of the concrete; for cracked concrete k5 = 8.7, for uncracked concrete k5 = 12.2
c1 – edge distance of fastener in direction 1 towards the closest edge
c2 – edge distance of fastener perpendicular to direction 1 that is the smallest edge distance in a narrow member
with multiple edge distances
Ah – area of the load-bearing head of the fastener; for circular washer plate Ah ​
= π
4
​
(d2h − d2 ), for rectangular
​

washer plate Ah ​ = a2wp − π4 d2 ​

d – anchor nominal diameter

dh – circular washer plate diameter
awp – side size of squared washer plate
fck – characteristic compressive cylinder strength of concrete
n – number of fasteners in a row parallel to the edge of the concrete member
s2 – spacing of fasteners in a group perpendicular to direction 1
scr,Nb = 4 c1 – spacing that is required for a fastener to develop its characteristic tensile strength against blow-out
failure

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Anchor shear steel resistance (EN 1992-4 – Cl. 7.2.2.3)

Anchor shear steel resistance is checked according to EN 1992-4 – Cl. 7.2.2.3. Friction is not taken into account. Shear
with and without lever arm is recognized in dependence on base plate manufacturing operation settings.

VRk,s
VRd,s =
​

​ ​

γM s ​

For stand-off: direct, the shear without lever arm is assumed (EN 1992-4 – Cl. 7.2.2.3.1):

VRk,s = k6 ∙ As ∙ fuk – characteristic resistance of a single fastener in case of steel failure; or fasteners with a ratio hef /
dnom < 5 and a concrete compressive strength class < C20/25 the characteristic resistance VRk,s should be multiplied by
a factor of 0.8.

For stand-off: mortar joint, the shear with lever arm is assumed (EN 1992-4 – Cl. 7.2.2.3.2):

αM ⋅ MRk,s
VRk,s =
​ ​

​ ​

la ​

where:

k6 = 0.6 for anchors with fuk ≤ 500 MPa; k6 = 0.5 otherwise

As – shear area of anchor; if shear plane in a thread is selected, the area reduced by threads is used; otherwise, full
shank area is used
fuk – anchor bolt ultimate strength
αM = 2 – full restraint is assumed (EN 1992-4 – Cl. 6.2.2.3)
0
MRk,s = MRk,s
​
(1 − ​

NRd,s ) – characteristic bending resistance of the anchor decreased by the tensile force in
NEd ​

​
​

the anchor
MRk,s0 = 1.2 Wel fub – characteristic bending resistance of the anchor (ETAG 001, Annex C – Equation (5.5b))
πd3
32 – section modulus of the anchor
Wel = ​ ​

d – anchor bolt diameter; if the shear plane in a thread is selected, the diameter reduced by threads is used;
otherwise, nominal diameter, dnom, is used
NEd – tensile force in the anchor
NRd,s – tensile resistance of the anchor
la = 0.5 dnom + tmortar + 0.5 tbp – lever arm
tmortar – thickness of mortar (grout)
tbp – thickness of the base plate
γMs = 1.0 ∙ fuk / fyk ≥ 1.25 for fuk ≤ 800 MPa and fyk / fuk ≤ 0.8; γMs = 1.5 otherwise – partial safety factor for steel
failure (EN 1992-4 – Table 4.1)

Concrete pry-out failure (EN 1992-4 – Cl. 7.2.2.4):

VRk,cp
VRd,cp =
​

​ ​

γM c ​

where:

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VRk,cp = k8 ∙ NRk,c – characteristic resistance of concrete pry-out failure

k8 = 1 for hef < 60 mm; k8 = 2 for hef ≥ 60 mm (ETAG 001, Annex C – Cl. 5.2.3.3)
NRk,c – characteristic resistance of a fastener, a group of fasteners, and the tensioned fasteners of a group of
fasteners in case of concrete cone failure; all anchors are assumed to be in tension
γMc = γc – partial safety factor (EN 1992-4 – Table 4.1, γinst = 1.0 for shear loading)
γc – partial safety factor for concrete (editable in Code setup)

Concrete edge failure (EN 1992-4 – Cl. 7.2.2.5):

Concrete edge failure is a brittle failure, and the worst possible case is checked, i.e. only the anchors located near the
edge transfer the full shear load acting on a whole base plate. If anchors are positioned in a rectangular pattern, the
row of anchors at the investigated edge transfers the shear load. If anchors are positioned irregularly, the two anchors
nearest to the investigated edge transfer the shear load. Two edges in the direction of the shear load are investigated,
and the worst case is shown in the results.

Investigated edges in dependence on the direction of the shear force resultant

VRk,c
VRd,c =
​

​ ​

γM c ​

where:
0 Ac,V
VRk,c = VRk,c ⋅ ⋅ ψs,V ⋅ ψh,V ⋅ ψec,V ⋅ ψα,V ⋅ ψre,V – characteristic resistance of a fastener or a group of
​

A0c,V
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

fasteners loaded towards the edge

0 0.5
VRk,c = k9 ⋅ dαnom ⋅ lfβ ⋅ fck
​ ​ ⋅ c1.5
1 – initial value of the characteristic resistance of a fastener loaded perpendicular
​ ​ ​ ​

to the edge
k9 – factor taking into account concrete condition; k9 = 1.7 for cracked concrete, k9 = 2.4 for non-cracked concrete
0.5
α = 0.1 ( cf1 )
l ​

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0.2
β = 0.1 ( dnom
c1
) ​
​

lf = min (hef, 12 dnom) for dnom ≤ 24 mm; lf = min [hef, max (8 dnom, 300 mm)] for dnom > 24 mm – effective length of
the anchor in shear
hef – embedment depth of the anchor in concrete
c1 – distance from the anchor to the investigated edge; for fastenings in a narrow, thin member, the effective
distance c′1 = max { c2,max , h
, s2,max } is used instead
​ ​

1.5 1.5 3
​ ​ ​ ​

c2 – smaller distance to the concrete edge perpendicular to the distance c1

dnom – nominal anchor diameter
Ac,V0 = 4.5 c12 – area of a concrete cone of an individual anchor at the lateral concrete surface not affected by
edges
Ac,V – actual area of the concrete cone of the anchorage at the lateral concrete surface
​
c2
ψs,V = 0.7 + 0.3 1.5c 1
≤ 1.0 – factor which takes account of the disturbance of the distribution of stresses in the
​

​
​

concrete due to further edges of the concrete member on the shear resistance
0.5
ψh,V = ( 1.5c
​

h )
1 ​

​
≥ 1.0 – factor which takes account of the fact that the shear resistance does not decrease
proportionally to the member thickness as assumed by the ratio Ac,V / Ac,V0
1
ψec,V = ​

1+2eV /(3c1 ) ​ ​
​
≤ 1 – factor which takes account of a group effect when different shear loads are acting on
the individual anchors of a group
1
ψα,V = ​

(cos αV )2 +(0.5 sin αV )2

​ ​
​ ​ ≥ 1 – takes account of the angle αV between the load applied, V, and the
direction perpendicular to the free edge of the concrete member
ψre,V = 1.0 – factor takes account of the effect of the type of reinforcement used in cracked concrete
h – concrete block height
γMc = γc – partial safety factor (EN 1992-4 – Table 4.1, γinst = 1.0 for shear loading)
γc – partial safety factor for concrete (editable in Code setup)

Interaction of tension and shear in steel

The interaction of tension and shear is determined separately for steel and concrete failure modes according to Table
7.3. Interaction in steel is checked according to Equation (7.54). The interaction in steel is checked for each other
separately.

2 2
( ) +( ) ≤ 1.0
NEd VEd ​ ​

​ ​

NRd,s VRd,s ​ ​

Interaction of tension and shear in concrete

Interaction in concrete is checked according to Equation (7.55).
1.5 1.5
( ) +( )
NEd VEd
≤ 1.0
​ ​

NRd,i VRd,i
​ ​

​ ​

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The largest value of NEd /NRd,i and VEd /VRd,i for the different failure modes shall be taken. Note that values of
​ ​ ​ ​

NEd and NRd,i often belong to a group of anchors.

​ ​

Anchors with stand-off

An anchor with stand-off is designed as a bar element loaded by shear force, bending moment, and compressive or
tensile force. These internal forces are determined by the finite element model. The anchor is fixed on both sides, one
side is 0.5×d below the concrete level, and the other side is in the middle of the thickness of the plate. The buckling
length is conservatively assumed as twice the length of the bar element. Plastic section modulus is used. The bar
element is designed according to EN 1993-1-1. The shear force may decrease the yield strength of the steel according
to Cl. 6.2.8 but the minimum length of the anchor to fit the nut under the base plate ensures that the anchor fails in
bending before the shear force reaches half the shear resistance. The reduction is therefore not necessary. The
interaction of bending moment and compressive or tensile strength is assessed according to Cl. 6.2.1.

Shear resistance (EN 1993-1-1 Cl. 6.2.6):

A V fy / 3
Vpl,Rd =
​ ​

​ ​

γM 2 ​

where:

AV = 0.844 As – shear area

As – bolt area reduced by threads
fy – bolt yield strength
γM2 – partial safety factor

Tensile resistance (EN 1993-1-8 – Cl. 3.6.1):

ck2 fub As
Ft,Rd = ≥ Ft
​ ​ ​

γM 2
​ ​ ​

where:

c – decrease in tensile resistance of bolts with cut thread according to EN 1993-1-8 – Cl. 3.6.1. (3) editable in Code
setup
k2 = 0.9 – factor from Table 3.4 in EN 1993-1-8
fub – anchor bolt ultimate strength
As – anchor bolt tensile stress area
γM2 – safety factor (EN 1993-1-8 – Table 2.1; editable in Code setup)

Compressive resistance (EN 1993-1-1 Cl. 6.3):

χAs fy
Fc,Rd =
​ ​

​ ​

γM 2 ​

where:

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1
χ= ˉ2
≤ 1 – buckling reduction factor
Φ+ Φ2 − λ
ˉ − 0.2) + λ
Φ = 0.5 [1 + α(λ ˉ 2 ] – value to determine buckling reduction factor χ
α = 0.49 – imperfection factor for buckling curve c (belonging to the full circle)
ˉ= As f y
Ncr – relative slenderness
λ
​ ​

​ ​

π 2 EI
L2cr – Euler's critical force
Ncr = ​

​
​

πd4s
64 – moment of inertia of the bolt
I=
​

Lcr = 2 l – buckling length; it is assumed on the safe side that the bolt is fixed in the concrete and able to rotate at
the base plate freely
l – length of the bolt element equal to half the base plate thickness + gap + half the bolt diameter; it is assumed on
the safe side that the washer and a nut are not clamped to the concrete surface (ETAG 001 – Annex C – Cl. 4.2.2.4)

Bending resistance (EN 1993-1-1 Cl. 6.2.5):

Wpl fy
Mpl,Rd =
​ ​

​ ​

γM 2 ​

d3s
6 – section modulus of the bolt
Wpl =
​

​ ​

fy – bolt yield strength

γM2 – partial safety factor

Anchor steel utilization (EN 1993-1-1 Cl. 6.2.1)

NEd MEd
+ ≤1
​ ​

​ ​

NRd MRd
​ ​

where:

NEd – tensile (positive) or compressive (negative sign) design force

NRd – tensile (positive, Ft,Rd) or compressive (negative sign, Fc,Rd) design resistance
MEd – design bending moment
MRd = Mpl,Rd – design bending resistance

Detailing
A detailing check of anchors is performed if the option is selected in the Code setup. Only minimum spacing between
anchors (measured centreline to centreline) is checked. The minimum spacing differs for each anchor type and is given
in the European Technical Product Specification. Users can modify both values in the Code setup.

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