BTN 2014 / 001 NOVEMBER 2014

BRIDGE TECHNICAL NOTE

Mechanical Anchors

2014/001
Version 1.0

1.

Scope and Application

This technical note is intended for use by those who

are engaged in the design of mechanical anchors for
bridge and other road-related structures in the State
of Victoria. For bridge and other road-related
structures definitions refer to VicRoads Road
Structures Inspection Manual.
The requirements in this document are intended to
reduce the risk of failure of connections made with
mechanical
anchors.
This
technical
note
supplements the requirements of AS5100 Bridge
Design and other Australian Standards relevant to
the design of road-related structures.
This document applies to retro-fitted (post-installed)
structural connections to reinforced concrete
substrates.

2.

Overview

A mechanical anchor is a bolt which derives its loadcarrying capacity from a combination of friction
and/or mechanical interlock with the concrete
surface in a drilled or cored hole to transmit loads.
Mechanical anchors can be either of the expansion
or the undercut type. Mechanical anchors can be
further classified according to their load-carrying
capacity - light duty, medium duty and heavy duty.
Table 1 lists the mechanical anchor types permitted
for use in road-structure applications and the
nominal load classification.
Undercut Anchors
Undercut anchors interlock with the concrete at the
base of the drilled hole and derive their tensile
resistance from direct bearing on the concrete
surface. These anchors are suitable for use under
both static and dynamic loads and can be used in
seismic retrofitting, subject in all cases to
appropriate design.

preload in the bolt, a mechanism referred to as

follow up expansion. DCEA are set by driving the
expansion cone or the anchor sleeve through a
defined
displacement
which
results
in
a
corresponding expansion force. DCEA do not
generate an additional expansion force on loading.

3.

Design Requirements

3.1 General
The design, selection and specification of mechanical
anchors must be conducted by an experienced
bridge design engineer approved by the Principal
Bridge Engineer or an engineering consultancy that
is prequalified in accordance with VicRoads
Prequalification Scheme at the Structures Simple
level as a minimum.
Anchors must have the load-carrying capacity
required by the design and sufficient durability to
achieve the required design life of the structure.

3.2. Design Considerations

Mechanical anchors shall be designed using the
concrete capacity method.
Mechanical anchors shall be spaced in accordance
with the suppliers recommendations and, if
applicable, shall have the minimum recommended
edge distance.
Mechanical anchors shall be designed for the
combined effects of shear, bending and/or tension
as appropriate to the intended use.
Connections shall be designed with sufficient
redundancy such that the failure of one anchor does
not lead to progressive failure of the connection.

3.3. Design Life

Expansion Anchors
Expansion anchors derive tensile resistance from the
friction generated by expansion of the anchor
against the wall of the drilled hole. There are two
types of expansion anchors; torque controlled
expansion anchors (TCEA) and displacement
controlled expansion anchors (DCEA). TCEA are set
by the application of a defined torque to the anchor
bolt which generates an expansion force in the
anchor and preloads the bolt. TCEA re-expand on
the application of tensile loads in excess of the

Mechanical anchors must have a minimum design

life equal to the design life of the structural
components which are being connected.
In the case of new components with unequal design
lives, the mechanical anchor must have a minimum
design life equivalent to the longest required design
life of the items being connected.

2
In the case of retrofitted mechanical anchors, the
chosen anchor must have a minimum design life
equivalent to the remaining design life of the
existing structure.

The design life of mechanical anchors must be

demonstrated by testing in accordance with
European Organisation for Technical Approvals
(EOTA) requirements specifically ETAG 001 Metal
anchors for use in concrete.

In general, only stainless steel anchors shall be used

in bridges and road-related structural applications.
The grade of stainless steel shall be selected to give
the required design life as determined above.

3.4. Restrictions on Use

The anchor types listed in Table 1 are permitted for
use in road-related structures:
Table 1: Permitted Anchor types
Mechanical Anchor Systems

Heavy Medium
Duty
Duty

a) Torque Controlled Expansion Anchors (TCEA)

i)
Heavy duty sleeve anchors
ii)
Wedge anchors
b) Undercut Anchors (UA)

Light
Duty

The anchor-types listed in Table 2 are not permitted

for use in road-related structures:

Table 2: Anchor types not permitted

Mechanical Anchor Systems
a) Displacement Controlled Expansion Anchors
b) Torque Controlled Expansion Anchors
i)
Coil anchors
ii)
Light duty metal anchors
iii)
Plastic anchors
iv)
Screw anchors
v)
Sleeve anchors

as holding-down bolts for use with cantilever or

portal sign structures and high mast light
structures
as holding-down bolts for steel and concrete
bridge barriers and bridge barrier posts
if the thickness of the concrete substrate into
which the anchor is being placed is less than
1.25 x required length of the anchor
if the concrete substrate into which the anchor is
being placed is friable, shows signs of delamination or any other defect other than the
permitted use in cracked concrete in accordance
with the manufacturers recommendations
in concretes with strengths less than 20 MPa or
greater than 50 MPa - with the exception of
undercut anchors which are permitted at
strengths in excess of 50Mpa if used in
accordance
with
the
manufacturers
recommendations

*
Positive connections are defined as structural
connections that are achieved by clamping either through
or around the full depth of the elements being connected.
For example, a threaded rod (or bolt) in a full-depth hole
together with a backing plate.

3.5. Permitted Uses

Subject to appropriate design considerations and the
restrictions on use stated in this document,
mechanical anchors are suitable for use in
applications where they are subjected primarily to
axial compressive forces and shear forces transverse
to the anchor for example:

to attach non-structural components

to attach ancillary items such as pipes and

cables to a structure where the mechanical
anchor is primarily in shear

to attach retro-fitted bridge bearings to

bridge substructures

Mechanical anchors which rely solely on friction shall

not be used in road-structure applications.
Mechanical anchors shall not be used in the following
applications:

in new structures if the connection can be

achieved by the use of cast-in anchorages or
positive connections*
in existing structures if the connection can
reasonably be achieved by the use of positive
connections*
if the required design life or the residual design
life of the structural components being
connected exceeds the tested/certified design
life of the available mechanical anchor
to support tensile loads in any orientation if
anchor failure could result in collapse, instability
or failure of a structure

MARIO FANTIN
PRINCIPAL BRIDGE ENGINEER
VicRoads

Contact
For further information please contact:
The Principal Bridge Engineer
3 Prospect Hill Road Camberwell Vic 3124
Telephone:
(03) 9811 8307
Facsimile:
(03) 9811 8329
Email:
mario.fantin@roads.vic.gov.au
Bridge Technical Notes are subject to periodic review
and may be superseded