Tensile Behavior of Embedded Steel Sections with End Plates

According to standards, the exposed steel column bases and other steel-concrete connections use anchor bolts to resist the tensile (or pullout) actions. The embedded steel sections can replace the anchor bolts in resisting pullout forces. This paper numerically studies the pullout behavior of embedded steel sections with end plates under various conditions. The numerical models are generated with a computer program. To support the numerical results, two I-sections with end plates are tested under pullout forces. Also, a number of test results on headed studs, available in the literature, are compared with the numerical results. One of the important conclusions of the study is that the shape of the embedded section does not seriously affect its pullout strength. The pullout strength is proportionally increased with the plan size of the end plate. However, the rate of increase in strength of headed I-sections is remarkably lower than that of the headed studs. Embedded sections with end plates can develop the pullout strength and stiffness capacities required by the design forces. (C) 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.