SET-3G Epoxy and ACI 355.4

[Simba13]

Afternoon all,

I have a quick question regarding ACI's anchorage to concrete provisions. My boss has me designing a holdown for a cantilever, it is supposed to be an all-thread bolt drilled and epoxied into concrete. So I go to CH 17 of ACI 318 to get an idea of my capacity and it says that there has to be a load test to verify the strength of the connection, makes sense. Here is my question, Simpson's SET-3G Epoxy says it was tested under the provisions of ACI 355.4, so does there need to be a load test on the connection as a whole or is it sufficient that the epoxy satisfies the provisions?

Thanks,

 

[r13]

Excerption from ACI 355.4-11: (pay attention to commentary below)

1.1—Introduction
This standard prescribes testing and evaluation requirements
for post-installed adhesive anchor systems intended for use
in concrete under the provisions of ACI 318. Criteria are
separately prescribed to determine the suitability of adhesive
anchors used in uncracked concrete only, or in both cracked
and uncracked concrete. Criteria are prescribed to determine
the design parameters and performance category for adhesive
anchors. Included are assessments of the adhesive anchor
system for bond strength, reliability, service conditions, and
quality control. Special inspection (13.3) is required during
anchor installation as noted in 10.22. Table 1.1 provides an
overview of the scope.

R1.1 This standard prescribes the testing programs
required to qualify post-installed adhesive anchor systems
for design in accordance with ACI 318, Appendix D.
Appendix D requires that anchors be tested either for use
exclusively in uncracked concrete or for use in cracked and
uncracked concrete conditions, whereby it is understood that
the presence of cracking may occur at any time over the
service life of the anchors. Test and assessment criteria are
provided for various conditions, including loads (seismic
and sustained), environmental with regard to humidity and
temperature, and determination if anchors are acceptable
for use in cracked or uncracked concrete. Refer to Cook and
Konz (2001) for a review of factors that influence adhesive
anchor behavior. Refer to Fuchs et al. (1995) for background
on the concrete breakout design model and to Eligehausen et
al. (2006) and Zamora et al. (2003) for a discussion of bond
models for adhesive and grouted anchors. For a discussion
of issues associated with the qualification and design of
systems for post-installed reinforcing bars, refer to Spieth et
al. (2001).

 

[Simba13]

So... the anchors, not just the adhesive needs to be load tested as well, is what I'm seeing?

 

[r13]

Suggest to look up the test methods for clarification.

 

[ATSE]

Wendy Allen at Simpson Strong Tie just wrote up a long blog post about the various code requirements for testing post-installed adhesive anchors.
For non-critical structures and plain vanilla installations, most post-installed anchors are not tested.
For comparison, if you can get away with a mechanical wedge anchors for your particular application, the torque testing is code recognized, easy, and fast.
If you are in the US, the IBC ch 19 and the Simpson SET-3G ESR (like all anchor ESRs) give guidance on testing (other industries would call this "proof testing" but this vernacular is not common for post-installed conc anchors).