Laboratory Investigations on the Installation of Fasteners in Fiber Reinforced Concrete

A significant aspect regarding the use of post-installed anchors in concrete is related to constructability, and mainly the characteristics of possible geometrical configurations. Specifically for fibre reinforced concrete (FRC), as fibre strengths or dosages increase, these configurations may change. One of the critical parameters is the minimum allowable distance from the edge, which can significantly influence the flexibility of using post-installed anchors, or even the possibility to install them in the first place. This geometrical parameter strongly depends on the drilling and anchoring procedure, as various technologies are available. This paper will present and compare the various available technologies for fastenings, and it will focus on setting experiments in fibre reinforced concrete by use of challenging means for drilling and setting, i.e. hammer drilling, mortar injection and expansion anchors. The influence of fibres in the installation and tightening of post-installed anchors is particularly analysed. The results of the study reveal the possibilities for extended applications of fastenings in fibre reinforced concrete, as compared to plain concrete.