Tensile and shear performance of single cast‐in anchors in thin HPFRC façade panels: Influence of embedment depth and steel fiber dosage

Abstract

Reducing the thickness of precast concrete façade panels with high‐performance fiber‐reinforced concrete (HPFRC) lowers seismic demand but challenges the performance of cast‐in anchors due to limited embedment. This study investigates the monotonic tensile and shear response of single cast‐in anchors embedded in 60‐mm‐thick HPFRC façade panels. The experimental program comprised M12 headed anchors with two effective embedment depths, 38 and 43 mm, and four steel fiber dosages ranging from 0 to approximately 78 kg/m ³ . In tension, plain high‐strength concrete specimens failed prematurely by splitting, whereas fiber‐reinforced specimens generally developed concrete breakout with improved post‐peak response. The measured tensile capacities exceeded the EN 1992‐4 concrete breakout predictions by up to 25%, while the observed failure cone angles ranged from 25 to 29°, below the conventional 35° assumption. The results indicate that, in thin members, the anchor response is governed by an interaction between local breakout, splitting, and flexural cracking of the panel. In shear tests conducted without a lever arm, failure was controlled by steel shear of the anchor, with ultimate loads ranging approximately from 50 to 53 kN and a limited influence of fiber dosage within the tested range. The findings provide experimental evidence for a scarcely documented anchorage configuration and highlight the need to account for member thickness and fiber‐reinforced post‐cracking behavior when assessing cast‐in anchors in thin HPFRC façade panels.