Behaviour of square steel anchor plate in autoclaved aerated concrete block masonry

Abstract

This research was conducted to study the mechanical behaviour of square steel anchor plate mounted in thin-bed masonry, which was made of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks of D400 density grade. The research objectives were to determine the failure mechanism in static push-in tests and suggest the best way of structural design for anchor plate in lightweight concrete masonry, and in particular to calculate its bearing capacity. As the behaviour of small size (40×40×5 mm) anchor plate used in the research depends on the mechanical properties of the masonry units as well as on the distance to edges and joints, these properties and factors were also studied. Low strength of aerated concrete under local compression was the main reason of failure for the investigated type of anchor plate and masonry. Graphical dependencies between anchor plate displacements and applied vertical load are presented. The highest and the lowest bearing capacities of anchor plate were observed when it was mounted in the middle of the block and at the joint, respectively. The design values of the vertical concentrated load resistance of the wall, NRdc, calculated according to EN 1996-1-1, are in good agreement with experimental failure loads.