Anchors to Solid Clay Brick Masonry in Tension: Behavior under Monotonic and Repeated Loading for Constant Embedment Depth

Abstract

This paper presents a part of an extensive experimental campaign performed at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) with the purpose of investigating the behavior of chemical anchors embedded in solid brick masonry. Anchors are tested in tension under monotonic or repeated loading. All tests are performed under displacement-controlled conditions. The experimental setup and the instrumentation are presented, along with the investigated parameters and the rationale for the selection of the values of those parameters. In this part of the experimental work, comprising fifty-six (56) tests, the examined parameters are the anchor locations (in mortar joints and in the center of bricks), the state of the substrate (cracked or uncracked), the width of the crack crossing the anchor or at its vicinity (up to 1.20 mm), as well as the loading history (monotonic or repeated). In the tests presented herein, the embedment length of the anchors is equal to 100 mm. The anchors are embedded in solid brick masonry wallettes, and subjected to a normal compressive stress equal to 0.20 MPa. The observed failure modes are explained, and the overall behavior of anchors subjected to tension is presented and commented upon, along with the effect of the investigated parameters on the measured tension resistance, and on the corresponding displacement.