Behaviour of undercut anchors subjected to high strain rate loading

A lot of research has been conducted to investigate the response of upgraded windows however little research is available on the load transfer from the window frames to the façade structure through the window retention anchors. This paper presents results from a finite element analysis program to investigate the tensile behaviour of post-installed undercut anchors under high strain rates. Strain rates varying from 10-5 to 103 s-1 were applied to single undercut steel anchors embedded in concrete blocks. Anchor diameters of 12 mm, 16 mm and 20 mm with various embedment depths were selected for the analyses. The analyses results show increased tensile capacity of undercut anchors with increase in strain rate. The maximum dynamic increase factor for tension of undercut anchors at strain rate of 103 s-1 was about 1.60 for the anchors investigated.