Cyclic Load Testing of Concrete Expansion Anchors

In order to ensure a concrete expansion anchor is suitable for a given application, the load resistance behavior of the anchor must be known. ASTM E488 provides a standard method of testing expansion anchors for static and dynamic loads. Due to the many types of anchors available commercially and the large variability of applications, the ASTM does not delineate all details or requirements necessary to comprehensively determine the dynamic load behavior of concrete expansion anchors. A test program is presented in this paper which was developed and implemented to determine the cyclic load behavior of wedge-type concrete expansion anchors. Test results are also presented along with a discussion of the behavior of anchors, and their suitability for use.