Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

Injected anchors in masonry elements represent a widespread technique for improving the 'box behavior' of masonry structures, since they contribute to avoid or delay out-of-plane mechanisms under horizontal actions. Despite of their diffusion, no clear design indications for injected anchors are available in literature and codes. This paper is aimed to propose design formulations for the maximum pull-out force in injected anchors basing on wide numerical analyses realized through a 2D Finite Element (FE) model specifically tuned to simulate pull-out tests. Thanks to the variation of several parameters, the most significant ones influencing the maximum pull-out force are identified and introduced in the strength models and several coefficients are assessed through best fitting regression analyses carried out on the numerical results. Finally, based on a 'design by testing' approach, preliminar 5% percentile provisions for the maximum pull-out force are proposed too, and the reliability of the ‘design-oriented’ formulation is assessed by means of comparisons with experimental results of some pull-out tests available in literature.

injected anchors, masonry pull-out force, bond, regression analysis, design formulations

Injected anchors made of steel bars embedded in masonry elements by means of cement-based grout represented in the past a wide solution for avoiding out-of-plane mechanisms. Corrosion phenomena in steel bars reduced the effectiveness of such type of intervention over time. Innovative materials, as the Fiber Reinforced Plastic ones, can represent a suitable alternative to increase durability and performance of injected anchors. Since the effectiveness of injected anchors is strictly related to bond behaviour along both the bar-grout and the grout-masonry interfaces, a detailed analysis by means of a Finite Element model was developed for different types of bars embedded in masonry elements. The numerical model was firstly calibrated on some experimental results of pull-out tests available in literature and, then, is used for investigating the effects of several parameters on both local and global behaviour. Load-displacement curves and local distributions of shear stresses are examined in detail. The numerical analyses evidenced that the maximum tensile force in the anchor mainly depends on the shear strength of the bar-grout and the grout-masonry interfaces and on the embedded length, but for very long embedded length, it can be limited by the tensile failure in the anchor or in the masonry.

masonry, FRP bars, injected anchors, bond, pull-out test, FE model