Behavior of Adhesive Anchors Reinforced with Postinstalled Steel Bars under Monotonic and Cyclic Loading

This study analyzed the effectiveness of post-installed rebar with epoxy adhesive in increasing the load capacity of adhesive anchors under monotonic and cyclic tensile loading. The study analyzed anchor reinforcement alternatives for an installation case where the post-installed rebar had the same embedment depth as the original anchor. Monotonic tensile tests were performed to determine the percentage of load increase and to identify the best alternative through an efficiency analysis (additional load capacity/direct cost). In addition, cyclic tensile tests were performed to determine the load performance when the anchor was subjected to load and unload cycles. The optimal configuration, consisting of four #3 bars installed at a 55° angle, increased the monotonic load capacity by 25 % and the cyclic load capacity by 21 %. It was also shown that loading and unloading cycles affect the distribution of forces in the steel bars of the anchorage system. The results underscore the significant influence of bar diameter, number and angle on anchor performance and provide insight into cost-effective reinforcement strategies in adhesive anchorage systems.