Behavior of post-installed fastening under seismic action

Connecting steel members to concrete elements by post-installed fasteners represents a frequent solution in common practice. However, when dealing with applications subjected to seismic action, it is still commonly felt we are up against a completely different behavior in respect to well-established steel-to-steel connections. The present paper systematically reviews design criteria for post-installed steel-to-concrete connections and it presents an experimental investigation on real size groups of six post-installed fasteners located far from free edges in low-strength, uncracked concrete, designed according to the different criteria previously identified. Design options by protection of the fastener or by protection of the attached element are investigated and compared, discussing the capabilities and limitations of each solution. Similarities and differences with respect to the design approach for steel structures are pointed out and discussed.