Interfacial Shear Stress Research Articles

Single pile response to uplift load: Computational model and analysis

Uplift loading is imparted on piles when subjected to overturning moment on the supporting structures, seismic stresses or hydrostatic pressures. Although several experimental and theoretical studies are available on piles subjected to uplift load, a complete analysis on pile-soil interactive performance under such loading is limited. The authors have developed a numerical model based on boundary element technique considering hyperbolic stress-strain response of soil, elastic-perfectly plastic pile and interface slippage condition. The model is validated by comparison of numerical results with available laboratory and field test data wherein acceptable agreement is obtained. The model is utilized to carry out extensive parametric studies on uplift behavior of single piles in clay and sand including load-displacement responses, profiles for interface shear stress and uplift displacement, critical depths, etc. The load-displacement responses were found as initially linear, then hyperbolic. With depth, the magnitude of interface shear stress increased, while the pile displacements decreased. The L/D ratio influenced uplift pile capacity as well as limit-state displacement. Furthermore, a set of design curves are developed to ascertain the safety and serviceability criteria of uplift piles in clay and sand. From the entire work, a series of important conclusions are drawn.

Water immersion impact on the durability of Fe-SMA/steel joints used in reinforcement systems

Adhesively attaching iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) to repair cracks in existing buildings represents a novel and effective approach to extending their service lives. The bond behavior between Fe-SMA and these parent buildings is crucial for the safety of reinforcement systems. Under hot-humid environments, the bond capacity of these reinforcement systems deteriorates, making the durability and reinforcement efficiency questionable. This study evaluates the distribution and progressive propagation of Fe-SMA strain and interface shear stress within the lap zone, as well as the failure behavior of Fe-SMA/steel single strap joints (SSJs) exposed to 55 °C running water. Based on experimental results, the bond-slip models of SSJs with various adhesive types and aging durations immersed in running water are proposed. As the aging duration extends, the maximum Fe-SMA strain and interface shear stress of SSJs decrease. The maximum shear stress of Type-AI SSJs at aging durations of 30, 60, and 90 days are 14.69, 11.89, and 9.66 MPa, respectively. Similarly, for Type-AII, the maximum shear stress at the same aging durations are 15.09, 11.26, and 8.82 MPa, respectively. When the aging duration increases from 30 to 90 days, the effective lap length of Type-AI and Type-AII SSJs improves by 13.33 % and 18.75 %, respectively. The maximum errors for cubic and bilinear bond-slip models in estimating fracture energy under harsh environments are 12 % and 16 %, respectively. After 90 days of exposure to running water, the fracture energy of Type-AI and Type-AII SSJs reduces by approximately 83 % and 88 %, respectively. This research offers guidelines for the durability of existing buildings strengthened with bonded Fe-SMA, reducing maintenance costs.

Concrete members strengthened by adhesive-bolted steel plates: shear behaviour of the composite connection interface

The method of strengthening adhesive-bolted steel plates is widely used in various strengthening projects due to its advantages of slight damage to the original structure, convenient construction, and wide application. However, the strengthening effect is greatly limited by the stripping failure of the steel-adhesive-concrete interface. Some researchers have studied the shear behaviour of the anchor bolts and adhesive layer on the interface. While developing an accurate model to predict the behaviour of the hybrid connection interface is still a large challenge. In this paper, shear tests were carried out on push-out test specimens with three different interface connection forms to investigate the failure mechanism of the adhesive-bolted steel plate composite connection interface. The failure process and failure mode of various interfaces were summarized. Moreover, the ultimate strength, load vs. slips curve, interface strain, and stiffness degradation were discussed. The obtained results indicate that anchor bolts could limit the transfer of interfacial shear stress, and the interface with a larger anchor bolt diameter possesses better plasticity, greater average stiffness, and could bear a high shear force after multiple stripping. The interfacial ultimate shear capacity depends on the relative strength of the anchor bolts and adhesive layer. For the interface with lower strength anchor bolts, the interface strength depends on the strength of the adhesive layer. For the interface with higher strength anchor bolts, the interface strength depends on the anchor bolts and the area of the unpeeled adhesive layer before the failure of the interface. Subsequently, the design method for estimating the shear strength of the interface with sufficient efficiency was proposed based on the data analysis.

Debonding Analysis of FRP-Strengthened Concrete Beam in High-Temperature Environment: An Enhanced Understanding on Sustainable Structure

FRP (fiber-reinforced composite) is generally regarded as the repair and enhancement material for existing concrete structures in extreme service environments such as high temperatures or fire exposure. In order to reveal the effect of high temperatures (i.e., thermal load) on the interfacial debonding behavior of a FRP-strengthened concrete beam, the novel closed-form analytical model was established and validated while considering the interfacial bond-slip constitutive. Based on the analytical model, solutions to the distributions of interfacial slip, interfacial shear stress, and debonding load were derived. Moreover, the effects of temperature variations and the FRP’s bonded thickness and length on interfacial bond behavior were also evaluated. The results indicated that the increase in temperature variations accelerated the development trends of interfacial slip and shear stress, where the affected range was mainly concentrated in the bonded plate end. The relationship between temperature variations and debonding loads presented a changing linear trend, and a prediction model for the debonding load was also proposed. Meanwhile, the increase in the FRP’s bonded thickness decreased the bond performance and accelerated the degradation trend of the debonding load. However, the increase in FRP’s bonded length improved the bearing capacity of the FRP-strengthened concrete beam. This paper provides meaningful guidelines for the sustainable design and construction of FRP-strengthened concrete structures in high-temperature environments.

Theoretical modeling of the interfacial shear and contact stresses of 2D braided composite cylinders

AbstractThis research aims to develop an analytical model to predict the interfacial shear stress distribution and contact stress of 2D braided composite cylinders. For this purpose, a tubular structure including a helix braid on a cylindrical mandrel is considered. The interfacial shear stress and axial tensile stress in the composite structure was estimated by applying shear lag assumptions. The contact normal stress and adhesion energy were estimated by applying the assumptions of Johnson‐Kendall‐Robert (JKR) and the Hertzian contact stress theory. The results show that the geometry of the braid and different braid yarn paths have a significant influence on the interfacial shear stress, normal stress in the contact zone, and adhesion energy of composite cylinders. As a novel approach, the proposed model considers the effect of surface roughness in the composite. The results of a parametric study indicated that the composite cylinders with larger braiding angles have lower debonding initiation force. The results also showed that the yarn diameter affected the pullout force in composite cylinders by a large extent.Highlights Normal contact stress and adhesion energy of composite cylinders are affected by the braid yarn path. The 30° composite presented the largest adhesion energy and normal contact stress. Normal tensile stress and interfacial shear stress are influenced by the reinforcement path in the composite. Normal tensile stress and interfacial shear stress in composite cylinders decreased with increased braid angle.

Experimental and numerical investigations on the performance of screw micropiles under pull-out and lateral loads

ABSTRACT Screw micro-piles are becoming progressively popular for inherent advantages and installation convenience. Their load-transfer technique and failure mechanism are complex and they bear more loads compared to the conventional piles, due to soil-thread interactive shear and bearing stresses. Available knowledge on performance of such piles is limited. The authors conducted a series of small-scale model tests on pull-out and lateral load-displacement characteristics of screw micro-piles embedded in soft cohesive soil. A sophisticated test set-up is developed to carry out the experiments under controlled conditions. The tests are followed by three-dimensional finite-element modeling by ABAQUS. The numerical output data closely matched with experimental results. Utilizing the finite-element model, interface shear stress distributions, load-transfer mechanism and failure envelop development are studied. The pile capacities are found to be influenced by different pile parameters, like pitch, embedded length, diameter, thread angle, etc. A set of important conclusions are drawn from the entire study.

Mechanical Behavior Research on IHB-CFRP Anchorage Scheme to Reinforce the Flexural Performance of Concrete Beams

This article investigates the use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) plates with additional anchors to enhance reinforced concrete slab beam structure. A test proposes an improved additional anchorage measure to solve the debonding problem during anchoring. Three point bending load test are carried out to analyze the influence of different anchoring positions on the reinforcement effect. An optimized Improved Hybrid Bonding CFRP (IHB-CFRP) additional anchoring measure is given. The shear friction model proposed in the IHB-CFRP anchoring scheme can simulate the additional adhesion resistance well. The article investigates the concrete crack extension, load–deflection relation, the strain distribution of CFRP plate, CFRP and concrete interface shear stress. It can be seen that the IHB-CFRP anchoring scheme improves the interface bonding ability and bearing capacity of the reinforced specimen.

Dual effects of pressure difference for long-wave stratified flow in horizontal microchannels

In this work, the linear stability analysis combining with energy balance theory is performed to clarify the suppressing and boosting long-wave instabilities driven by pressure difference in horizontal microchannels as well as its corresponding physical meanings. It is found that, for a specific fluid combination, there exists a certain relative liquid film thickness (hN,c) at which the disturbance work done by interfacial shear stress over unit wavelength (denoted by ISS) is exactly equal to the total viscous dissipation rate over unit wavelength within both phase bulk flows (denoted by DIStot). When the liquid film thickness (hN) exceeds hN,c, ISS is smaller than DIStot, indicating that the initial disturbance energy cannot be replenished from the primary flow until its completely disappear due to the viscosity dissipation. Conversely, ISS is larger than DIStot, indicating that the initial disturbance can acquire energy from the primary flow and grow up. The strength of suppressing and boosting effect can be influenced by liquid film thickness, flow rate, and channel height. However, the demarcation of the dual effects remains unchanged. An analytical expression of hN,c with respect to the viscosity ratio is established by means of long-wave approximation method, which matches well with the numerical results. The energy balance mechanisms revealed in the present study provide a new insight into the wave mode in the confined space and help the design of microfluidic systems.

Soret and Dufour effects in two-phase boundary layer flow of non-Newtonian and Newtonian fluids with uniform shear strength ratio

BackgroundThis study numerically investigates heat and mass transfer in two-phase boundary layer shear flows, focusing on a non-Newtonian Casson fluid interacting with an adjacent Newtonian fluid under the influence of thermal radiation. By incorporating both Soret and Dufour effects, we examine how temperature gradients influence mass flux and how concentration differences affect energy flux. These coupled effects are essential for applications involving simultaneous heat and mass transport, such as chemical reactors, separation processes, and thermal management systems. MethodsThe analysis explores boundary layer convergence with varying shear intensities, utilizing the MATLAB solver “bvp4c” with appropriate similarity transformations for computational accuracy. The resulting numerical data are presented in graphical form to illustrate the impact of key parameters on flow characteristics. Additionally, variations in the Sherwood number, Nusselt number, and interfacial shear stress are depicted for each fluid across different parameter values. To evaluate the accuracy of our numerical method, we conducted a comparative analysis with the results reported by Weidman and Wang [4] and Wang [2]. This comparison demonstrated an excellent match, confirming the reliability of our approach, as shown in Table 1 and Fig. 2. Significant findingsThe results demonstrate that the fluid temperature increases with the Dufour number, while the concentration rises with the Soret number. Higher Casson parameter values lead to a reduction in interfacial shear stress in both fluids. Furthermore, the Nusselt and Sherwood numbers increase with an enhanced radiation parameter, highlighting the influence of thermal radiation on heat and mass transfer. These insights offer a valuable understanding of flow behavior in systems with coupled thermal and concentration gradients.

Characterization of the Tyranno SA4 third generation SiC fiber surface and comparison with Tyranno SA3 and HNS fibers

AbstractWhile presenting similar properties, the Hi‐Nicalon Type S (HNS) and Tyranno SA3 (TSA3) SiC fibers exhibit different mechanical behaviors when used as reinforcement in SiC/SiC composites. Indeed, the HNS‐reinforced composites exhibit a pseudoductile mechanical behavior whereas the TSA3‐based composites show low ductility. Even though the differences in their grain size and surface roughness could explain a part of this phenomenon, the chemical composition and microstructure of the fibers outermost surface play a key role. The recent availability of the new Tyranno SA4 (TSA4) SiC fiber allowed the processing of composites showing the expected pseudoductile mechanical behavior in ceramic matrix composites, even without an interphase. Therefore, this result shows that the TSA4 surface should be different from its predecessors. In order to characterize the surface, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed on the HNS, TSA3, and TSA4 fibers. The presence of an organized boron nitride layer of dozens of nanometers in thickness on the TSA4 fiber surface was evidenced. This layer already acts as an interphase material, guaranteeing cracks deflection, and is responsible for the pseudoductile behavior of composites made of this new fiber, reducing the interfacial shear stress at the fiber/matrix interface.

Experimental and analytical investigation of the flexural behavior of steel-bamboo composite I-beams with composite connections

A novel steel-bamboo composite (SBC) I-beam with composite connections was presented, in which the pure adhesive bonding steel-bamboo (SB) interfaces at the beam's flanges were reinforced by self-tapping screws (STSs) to avoid the debonding failure and slip behavior of beams. 14 beams with various parameters were prepared and performed four-point bending tests to investigate the bending behavior of beams. The influences of different parameters on the bending behavior were revealed. Finally, analytical models were developed for estimating the interfacial shear stress at the beam flanges in the serviceability limit state (SLS) and ultimate deflection of beams, respectively. The results indicated that the debonding failure and slip behavior of beams were effectively limited, and the flexural and deformation capacities and ductility were significantly improved. The failure mechanism of beams changed from a debonding failure to a bamboo tensile failure. The bending resistance was improved by increasing the diameter and arrangement range of the STS and reducing the STS spacing and steel flange width-thickness ratio. The local buckling behavior was effectively reduced and the ductility was improved for beams reinforced with transverse stiffening ribs (TSRs). Compared to beams with inclined STS reinforced bonding interfaces, the bending resistance was increased for beams with vertical STS reinforced bonding interfaces. The analytical model provided accurate predictions for beams.

The plastic behavior of matrix and its effect on the interface stress transfer in fiber-reinforced composites

ABSTRACT Existing shear-lag models for fiber-reinforced elasto-plastic composites always assume a rectangular-shaped plastic zone in the matrix, which is not consistent with numerical simulations. In this paper, a shear-lag model considering a more realistic parabolic shape of the plastic zone in an elasto-plastic matrix is proposed, in order to investigate the effect of matrix plasticity on the interface stress transfer. A closed-form solution to the profile of parabolic shape related to the applied stress is obtained so that the plastic zone evolution can be analytically characterized. Compared with the case with a purely elastic matrix, a plastic matrix could lead to a decrease in the interfacial shear stress (ISS) and an increase in the fiber stress. The smaller the plastic tangent modulus of the matrix, the lower the ISS is and the larger the fiber stress becomes, and the ISS and fiber stress keep being on same magnitudes of yielding strength and Young’s modulus of matrix, respectively. The present model with a parabolic plastic shape is more accurate to describe the mechanical behaviors of plasticity in matrix, which is of guiding value for the design of elasto-plastic composites used in vehicle accessories, medical devices, civil engineering and so on.

Interfacial shear properties between water-castable engineered cementitious composites (WECC) and concrete substrate

To characterize the shear performance and bonding mechanism of the interface between a water-castable engineered cementitious composite (WECC) and the concrete substrate, single-sided shear tests were conducted. The effects of age (3 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days) and roughness (0 mm, 0.91 mm, and 1.87 mm) on the macroscopic performance of the interface were studied. Computed tomography (CT) was used to quantitatively analyze the changes in the mesoscopic void structure of the three interfaces at different ages, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the microscopic structure and hydration products of the interfaces. A three-zone, double-layer, two-interface bonding model for WECC–concrete substrate interfaces in water media is established, elucidating the bonding mechanism. On the basis of the CT test results and single-sided shear test results, an interfacial shear stressslip model and a peak shear stress prediction model including macro- and mesoscale parameters are developed. As the roughness and age increase, the interfacial peak shear stress gradually increases. When the roughness is 1.87 mm, the interfacial peak shear stress is the highest. The interfacial peak shear stress of W1.87–28 is 60.65 % greater than that of W1.87–14 and 34.25 % greater than that of W0.91–28. The results reveal the structure of the interface between WECC and concrete panels and provide early-age interfacial bonding data for WECC reinforcement projects.

Questioning the Representativeness of Damage Mechanisms in Single-Fiber Composites via In Situ Synchrotron X-Ray Holo-Tomography.

In fiber-reinforced polymer composites, the fiber-matrix interface controls stress transfer mechanisms, thereby affecting mechanical performance. Interfacial properties are often extracted via single-fiber composite tests. In these tests, the load is transferred from the polymer to the fiber through interfacial shear stresses, necessitating the evaluation of interfacial shear properties. To adopt these properties in the design of industrially relevant composites, one must assume that the damage mechanisms in single-fiber composites are representative of those in multi-fiber composites, consisting of highly aligned, unidirectional plies with high fiber volume fractions. That assumption, however, has never been validated. In this paper, the real-time damage development is monitored in single-fiber and multi-fiber composites using in situ X-ray holo-tomography at 150-nm pixel size. The technique enables the first-ever 3D detection of longitudinal interfacial debonding in carbon and glass single-fiber composites. This mechanism is not detected in multi-fiber composite specimens, suggesting that single-fiber composites are intrinsically unrepresentative of realistic composite behavior.

Analytical model for RC beams with embedded prestressed Fe-SMAs

Prestressed iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) strengthening is an effective means to enhance the performance of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The applied prestress level significantly influences the strengthening efficiency. However, the absence of a reliable model predicting the applied prestress hinders the efficient design of prestressed Fe-SMA strengthening solutions. To fill this gap, the current study proposes an analytical model, with which a constant zone and a transfer zone are identified in strengthened RC beams. The constant zone, with zero interfacial shear stress, sustains a constant prestress level, while the transfer zone, experiencing non-zero shear stress, gradually reduces the Fe-SMA tensile stress from the prestress level to zero. Validated through experiments, the proposed model accurately predicts the applied prestress levels and prestress-induced deflections in RC beams strengthened with Fe-SMAs and more conventional carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs). Further analysis reveals that the transfer zone length ranges from 4 to 7 characteristic lengths, and it is proportional to the logarithm of the applied prestress level. Simplifying a constant prestress level within the beam span yields sufficiently accurate prestress analysis.

An Experimental Study and Result Analysis on the Dynamic Effective Bond Length of a Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Sheet Attached to a Concrete Surface

A carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) is a common material utilized for the enhancement in reinforced concrete (RC) constructions. Previous research indicates that the bonding performance between a CFRP sheet and concrete determines whether the bonding of CFRP material is effective. However, the majority of existing research on the bonding performance of the CFRP–concrete interface is concentrated on static loading conditions. In order to clarify the effect of dynamic load on the bonding performance of the CFRP sheet–concrete interface, this study adopts the double-sided shear test method to carry out dynamic experimental research. The test findings reveal that the damage pattern of the CFRP sheet–concrete interface remains consistent across different loading rates. The ultimate bearing capacity increases as the strain rate increases. As the strain rate increases from 10−5 s−1 to 10−2 s−1, the effect of bond length on ultimate bearing capacity increases by about 7%. As the strain rate increases, both the maximum strain of CFRP and the maximum interfacial shear stress demonstrate a corresponding increase, with respective increase rates of 60% and 20%. The effective bond length decreases by about 20% when the strain rate rises from 10−5 s−1 to 10−2 s−1. Finally, a formula for calculating the dynamic effective bond length of a CFRP sheet, grounded in the Chen and Teng formula, has been proposed and verified.

Advancing thermohydraulic performance of micro-grooved flat heat pipes through a combined numerical-experimental approach

A combined numerical-experimental model has been developed to predict the thermohydraulic characteristics of micro-grooved flat heat pipes (FHPs). This model uses a limited number of experimental data for calibration with two parameters, βexp,1 and βexp,2, which account for uncertainties in the accommodation coefficients used to determine evaporation and condensation mass fluxes. This calibration, which is a key feature of the developed model, addresses the uncertainties and challenges in determining these coefficients. Moreover, the model incorporates the effects of interfacial shear stress, axial wall conduction, heat transfer in the liquid block region, and the contact angle of the liquid–vapor interface. Furthermore, the evaporation mass flux from the curved liquid–vapor interface is calculated using a separate multiscale approach developed in two recent works for analyzing evaporation from the extended meniscus in microchannels, considering thin-film evaporation. The model demonstrates high accuracy in predicting the maximum heat transport capacity (Qmax) and wall temperature distribution across various input heat powers, with a maximum error of less than 0.5 % in wall temperature predictions, as validated against experimental data. The validated model is then used to explore a new micro-grooved wick structure featuring converging/diverging microchannels. In this structure, the channel width is constant and equal to Wf1 in the first half of the heat pipe, from the condenser end to the midpoint, and then it decreases or increases to Wf2 by the end of the evaporator section. Results indicate that a flat heat pipe with a converging micro-grooved wick structure (Wf1 = 200 µm and Wf2 = 160 µm) can enhance Qmax from 53 to 70 W, 70.8 to 91.8 W, and 91.2 to 116.5 W at working temperatures of 60 °C, 70 °C, and 80 °C, respectively. This means the new converging micro-grooved wick structure can boost flat heat pipe performance by more than 25 % compared to a flat heat pipe with a straight micro-grooved wick (Wf1 = Wf2 = 200 µm) without increasing the occupied space.

Experimental investigation of GFRP bar bonding in geopolymer concrete using hinged beam tests

Geopolymer concrete reinforced with Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bar presents a novel, durable, eco-friendly strengthening system with significant promise for practical engineering. To employ this strengthening system, a clear understanding of the bond performance between GFRP bars and geopolymer concrete under bending conditions is essential. Interface behaviors of GFRP bars-geopolymer concrete was investigated using hinged beam tests, considering the following parameters: concrete type(geopolymer and ordinary), concrete strength(C30, C50, C70), surface treatment of bars(shallow thread, spiral wrap ribs, and sandblasted), bar diameters(6 mm, 10 mm, and 16 mm), and bond lengths(2, 4, and 8 times the bar diameter). Results indicate a consistent bond mechanism between geopolymer and ordinary concrete. The bond strength increases with higher concrete strength, and the initial bond stiffness is improved by spiral wrap ribs. Moreover, the mBPE model was used to describe the local bond-slip relationship, and the effects of different parameters on interface shear stress distribution were discussed. The development length of GFRP bars in concrete was evaluated and compared with existing codes. These findings provide valuable references for the performance assessment and optimization of GFRP bar-reinforced geopolymer concrete structures in engineering applications.

New analytical model for multi-layered composite plates with imperfect interfaces under thermomechanical loading

A new analytical model for thermoelastic responses of a multi-layered composite plate with imperfect interfaces is developed. The composite plate contains an arbitrary number of layers of dissimilar materials and is subjected to general mechanical loads (both distributed internally and applied on edges for each layer) and temperature changes, which can vary from layer to layer and along two in-plane directions. Each layer is regarded as a Kirchhoff plate, and each imperfect interface is described using a spring-layer interface model, which can capture discontinuities in the displacement and stress fields across the interface. Unlike existing models, the governing equations and boundary conditions are simultaneously derived for each layer by using a variational procedure based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics, which are then combined to obtain the global equilibrium equations and boundary conditions for the multi-layered composite plate. A general analytical solution is developed for a symmetrically loaded composite square plate with an arbitrary number of layers and imperfect interfaces by using a new approach that first determines the interfacial normal and shear stress components on one interface. Closed-form solutions for two- and three-layer composite square plates are obtained as examples by directly applying the general analytical solution. Numerical results for two-, three- and five-layer composite plates under different loading and boundary conditions predicted by the current model are provided, which compare well with those obtained from finite element simulations using COMSOL, thereby validating the newly developed analytical model.

A theoretical model for the load-transfer analyses of load distributive compression anchor integrating DSC-based interface nonlinear model

An innovative anchorage technology named load distributive compression anchor (LDCA) has recently been employed in a multitude of geotechnical engineering. The anchoring structure comprises multiple anchor bodies, thereby overcoming the bearing defects associated with conventional load-concentrated anchors and providing superior bearing performance. The complex structural configuration of LDCA considerably complicates the process of load-transfer theoretical modeling. A lack of relevant studies from theoretical solution perspective is yet evident in previous works. In this paper, a theoretical model was proposed for the load-transfer analyses of LDCA, of which the soil-anchor interface mechanical behavior was specially characterized by a disturbed state concept (DSC)-based nonlinear model. The mechanical simulation for the connections in different anchor bodies was incorporated into the theoretical analysis framework through the utilization of finite difference method. Three groups of 3D finite element (FE) models were established to simulate the load-transfer behaviors of LDCAs with different numbers of anchor bodies. The theoretical calculations agree well with the FE numerical results and the in-situ pullout test data, thereby confirming the applicability of the load-transfer theoretical model. The axial force and interface shear stress distributions, as well as the bearing capacity for LDCAs, were discussed based on theoretical calculations and FE simulations. Sensitivity analysis of several key design parameters was conducted to investigate their effects on the bearing capacity of LDCAs. The findings achieved in this study can provide insights into the understanding of the load-transfer behaviors of LDCA, and contribute to the bearing performance evaluation.