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 CONCRETE Advice
CONCRETE ADVICE No. 05

Holding down bolt design:

suggested procedures
Licensed copy: ocsc, OConner Sutton Cronin, 24/08/2010, Uncontrolled Copy, ®The Concrete Society

Deryk Simpson, BSc CEng MICE

This document gives guidance on the design of holding down bolts for attaching steel
or concrete stanchions to reinforced concrete foundations. Design approaches are
given for resisting the uplift on the bolts and for the allowable bearing pressure behind
the stanchion base plate. This document only covers bolts in tension or compression
and does not cover bolts in shear. A method for the design of dowels in shear is
included in Concrete Society Technical Report No. 34. Proprietary fixings are not
included in this document. The manufacturer's technical literature should be consulted
for the load capacity of proprietary fixings.

The uplift load is to be the factored design

1 Uplift - bolts in tension load not the characteristic load. If the uplift
load value results from non limit-state
There are two possible ways of checking bolts design calculations assume a partial load
in uplift. The first is applicable to single bolts factor of 1.6 unless a lower partial load
and pairs of bolts, which are effectively bonded factor can be justified by calculation:
over the full embedded length and have
relatively small anchor plates. The second
method may be applicable if there are more than Cone shear stress =
two bolts, if the bolts are not effectively bonded Design uplift force ÷ Surface area of
over the embedded length but rely on an anchor cone or cones
plate for embedment, or if the bolts are fastened
to a relatively large stiff anchor plate embedded Note: Appendix A includes a method for
in the concrete. calculating the surface area of non-
intersecting cones and tabulated values
METHOD 1 - Effectively bonded bolts for the combined areas of pairs of
intersecting cones for different depths
Check Shear Stress and spacings of pairs of bolts.
The following procedure can be used to
check the depth and number of bolts in The actual ‘cone’ shear stress should be less
tension. Assume the tension in the bolts is than the design shear stress value obtained
resisted by shear stress on the surface area from Table 3.8 of BS 8110(2). The
of 90° cones of concrete within the enhancement in design shear stress for
foundation around each bolt. The depth of tension reinforcement is only applicable if
the cone is to be taken as the depth to the top structural reinforcement is present in
top of the bolt anchor plate not the full two directions at right angles. The lower of
depth of the bolt. the two percentages should be used for the
 As value in Table 3.8. If only nominal top reinforcement depend on the roughness of the inside of the hole. For
is provided then the foundation should be regarded as a ‘smooth’ hole (e.g. produced by diamond drilling)
unreinforced for checking the shear stress around bolts in the ‘Plain Bar’ values could be used for Table 3.26
uplift. BS 8110-1. For a ‘rough’ hole (e.g. produced by
percussive drilling) the ‘Type 2’ values could be used
If the cone shear stress exceeds the design shear stress for Table 3.26.
then the bolts will need to be deeper and/or more bolts
Licensed copy: ocsc, OConner Sutton Cronin, 24/08/2010, Uncontrolled Copy, ®The Concrete Society

provided.
In all cases if fb exceeds fbu deepen and/or increase the
number of bolts.
Check Bond Stress: Cast-in bolts
If the shear stress is less than the relevant design shear
stress the anchorage of the individual bolts should be METHOD 2 - Anchor plate pull out
checked. The method for calculating the anchorage bond
stress around a reinforcement bar in BS 8110 can be This method assumes that the anchor plate embedded in
used, i.e. the concrete tries to pull out of the concrete by punching
shear failure. The anchor plate effectively becomes the
loaded area for a punching shear design, which is under-
fb = Fs/ ( x φ x D)
taken in accordance with Section 3.7.7 in BS 8110(2).

where: For the purposes of design for resistance to uplift the

Fs = Design force in the bar symbols in BS 8110 would have the following meaning:
φ = Diameter of the bolt
D = Depth of the bolt u0 = perimeter of anchor plate
fb = Anchorage bond stress, which should not u = effective punching shear perimeter around anchor
exceed fbu plate
fbu = Design ultimate anchorage bond stress d = depth to top of anchor plate below mid-plane of
top reinforcement
The method of calculating fbu is given in 3.12.8.4 in V = maximum design uplift load (i.e. factored uplift
BS 8110-1. An assessment of the bond characteristics of load)
the bolt will need to be made. Bolts that are plain round vc = design concrete shear stress from Table 3.8.
bar with only a limited length of thread at the top should
be considered as ‘Plain Bars’ for Table 3.26 BS 8110-1. If lightly reinforced or reinforced in one direction only,
Bolts that are threaded full length can be considered as take 100As/bvd less than 0.15. If reinforced in the top in
‘Type 2 Deformed Bars’ in Table 3.26. NB: The amount both directions take the lesser value for 100As/bvd.
of reinforcement provided has no effect on the anchorage
bond stress. Design procedure
Check the shear stress at the face of the anchor plate:
If fb exceeds fbu the bolts will need to be deeper and/or
more bolts provided.
V
vmax =
u 0d
Check Bond Stress: Post-grouted bolts
In the cases where bolts are grouted into drilled holes it
may be prudent to check two anchorage bonds, i.e. vmax should not exceed 0.8 √ fcu or 5 N/mm2 if less.

If vmax exceeds the above values it will be necessary to

z On the grout/bolt interface. The calculation will be as
increase the size of the anchor plate.
for cast-in bolts above, except that a value of fbu will
need to be determined for the grout material, based
Check the shear stress on the critical perimeter:
upon the grout characteristic compressive strength or
the manufacturer’s technical information.
V
z On the grout/drilled hole interface. The calculation v =
ud
will be similar to that for cast-in bolts above, except
that φ = hole diameter and fbu will be the lesser of where
that for the foundation concrete or the grout. An u = length of critical perimeter, located at a distance
assessment of the bond characteristics of the perimeter of 1.5d from the anchor plate.
of the drilled hole will need to be made. This will
 v should not exceed the appropriate value from Table 3.8. Two cases should be considered and the maximum area
If v exceeds the Table 3.8 value there are a number of used.
options available:
2.1 Infill material/concrete foundation interface
z Lengthen the bolts, thus setting the anchor plate
Take design ultimate bearing stress = 0.6 fcu(1) where
deeper into the concrete.
fcu(1) is the characteristic strength of the foundation
Licensed copy: ocsc, OConner Sutton Cronin, 24/08/2010, Uncontrolled Copy, ®The Concrete Society

z Increase the size of the anchor plate. NB: it may concrete.

require stiffening if increased in size.
z Increase the amount of top reinforcement to increase 2.2 Base plate/infill material interface
vc.
Take design ultimate bearing stress = 0.4 fcu(2) where
z Provide shear reinforcement. This would be regarded fcu(2) is the characteristic strength of the bedding infill
as a last resort due to the practical difficulties and material. The characteristic strength will depend on the
cost of installing shear links in foundations. In this age at which the bedding/infill material is subject to the
instance the shear would have to be checked on the full load. Table 1 lists typical values for fcu(2). For
next shear perimeter, and if necessary subsequent proprietary materials, refer to manufacturer’s literature
shear perimeters. for design stresses at the appropriate ages.

Overall design 2.3 Notes

The bolts themselves should also be checked for direct
tension stress (see BS 7419(3)). Also the foundations
should be designed to resist the uplift. z The information in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 above is
based on Clause 5.2.3.4 in BS 8110(2) and Clause
3.8.4 in reference 1.
2 Base plate sizing – compression
z In Table 1, the strength at 3 days is assumed to
be 40% of the value at 28 days, and the strength
The following procedures will give the absolute minimum at 7 days is assumed to be 60% of the value at
stanchion base plate size and applies to pin jointed bases 28 days. This is applicable to Portland cement
only. For stanchion bases required to resist overturning materials only. Higher percentages may be used if
moments refer to the relevant codes of practice and confirmed by testing or past knowledge of the
design guides for the design of the base plate size. materials.
z The design bearing stresses in Sections 2.1 and
Use factored design loads not characteristic loads. If the 2.2 can be used as the maximum values for
compression load results from a non limit-state design the design of base plates that are subject to an
assume a partial load factor of 1.6 unless a lower value overturning move-ment or non-uniform stress
can be justified by calculation. distribution.

Base plate area = z The procedures in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 assume a
Maximum design compressive load ÷ Design ultimate uniform distribution of stess below the base plate, i.e.
bearing stress that the base plate is stiff. If the stress is not uniform,
i.e. a flexible base plate, different procedures will be
needed to size the base plate.

Table 1: Typical values for fcu(2)

Material Cube strength at 28 0.4 fcu values (N/mm2)
days (N/mm2) 3 days 7 days 28 days
Cement grout 12 - 15 1.9 - 2.4 2.9 - 3.6 4.8 - 6.0
Sanded grout 15 - 20 2.4 - 3.2 3.6 - 4.8 6.0 - 8.0
Mortar 20 - 25 3.2 - 4.0 4.8 - 6.0 8.0 - 10.0
Fine concrete Use 28 day cube strength 0.16 fcu 0.24 fcu 0.4 fcu
 z The materials defined in Table 1 are as follows: A.2.1 If X is greater than 2D, AD = 8.886 x D2
„ Grout: Mixture of cement (usually Portland
A.2.2 If X is less than 2D the cones overlap. The values
cement) to water in proportion of about
for AD are listed in the following table
2:1 by weight.
„ Sanded grout: Mixture of cement, sand and water X= 100 150 200 300 450 600 750 1000
in approximately equal proportions by weight. D Effective conical area of 2 cones = 2D
Licensed copy: ocsc, OConner Sutton Cronin, 24/08/2010, Uncontrolled Copy, ®The Concrete Society

(mm) (x 103 mm2)

„ Mortar: Mixture of cement, sand and water in 100 71.5 82.5 88.9 88.9 88.9 88.9 88.9 88.9
proportions of about 1:3:0.4 by weight. 150 141.6 160.8 178.0 199.9 199.9 199.9 199.9 199.9
z For further information refer to Clause 3.8.1 in 200 233.7 260.5 285.9 329.8 355.4 355.4 355.4 355.4
300 484.3 525.8 566.4 643.4 742.0 799.7 799.7 799.7
reference 1.
450 1027 1090 1152 1274 1448 1602 1728 1799
600 1769 1853 1937 2103 2345 2574 2784 3072
APPENDIX A: Surface area of cones around 750 2711 2817 2922 3131 3439 3737 4021 4451
embedded bolts 1000 4726 4867 5008 5288 5705 6114 6513 7149

A.1. Single Bolts

The surface area [AS] of a 90° cone around a single bolt
of embedded depth D is AS = 4.443 x D2.

NB: This equation cannot be used if bolts are closer

together than 2D or closer to the edge of a foundation
than 1.5D.

A.2. Pairs of Bolts

D = Embedded depth of the bolts
X = Horizontal distance between the bolt centres
AD = Combined surface area of the two 90° cones
around each bolt.

REFERENCES AND ADVICE

References
1. CONCRETE SOCIETY, CEMENT AND CONCRETE ASSOCIATION AND CONSTRADO, Holding down
systems for steel stanchions, British Cement Association (formerly the Cement and Concrete Association),
Camberley, 1980.
2. BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION, BS 8110, Structural use of concrete, Part 1: Code of practice for
design and construction, BSI, London, 1997.
3. BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION, BS 7419, Specification for holding down bolts, BSI, London, 1991.

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Issued December 2006

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