Recent developments in design and qualification of post-installed mechanical anchors

In recent years several investigations were carried out to investigate the behavior of post-installed anchors under seismic action. As a consequence, both building codes and product qualification standards were reviewed (ACI318, ACI 355.2) or are currently undergoing a review process (Eurocode 2, ETAG001). The present paper presents the current design provisions in the US (ACI 318) and Europe (EN 1992-4) and the relevant testing method for the qualification of anchors (ACI 355.2 and ETAG001, respectively). While both EN 1992-4 and ETAG 001 are currently under review, the most recent novelties currently under discussion are presented, with a focus on the critical factors to be accounted in the design of the connections in seismic zones.