Use of CBFEM for Validation

Have you ever stopped for a second and thought, “do we ever validate our rigid plate assumption when designing anchorage to concrete?” The answer is simple. There is no analytical method for validation and, because the design codes mandate it, the design engineer abides by it as it is a Building and Safety (Plan check) requirement. This article demonstrates how Component Based Finite Element Modeling (CBFEM) can validate any base plate behavior, rigid or non-rigid. So, regardless of what base plate assumption you make as a design professional, now you can get validation.

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Anchoring-to-concrete provisions in the American Concrete Institute’s Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318) are used to calculate anchor design strengths that consider possible anchor failure modes. These design strengths are checked against calculated factored loads acting on anchors. ACI 318 anchoring-to-concrete parameters for calculating anchor design strengths are derived from testing and analysis that includes the use of a rigid fixture to apply tension load to anchors. Therefore, ACI 318 provisions for anchor design can be considered relevant if the fixture being attached can be considered “rigid.” …