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IS 11502 : 1995Code of practice for design of mechanical anchors for use in concrete

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EN 1992-4 · ACI 318 · fib Bulletin 58
CurrentSpecializedCode of PracticeBIMStructural Engineering · Fasteners, Bolts and Anchors
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Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
OverviewValues4InternationalTablesFAQ4Related

IS 11502:1995 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for design of mechanical anchors for use in concrete. This code of practice provides design guidelines for post-installed mechanical anchors used to make connections to hardened concrete. It covers the design methodology for anchors subjected to tension, shear, and combined loads, outlining various failure modes like steel failure, concrete cone breakout, and pull-out.

Lays down the procedure for the design of mechanical anchor fasteners for use in concrete.

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Structural Engineering — Fasteners, Bolts and Anchors
Type
Code of Practice
International equivalents
EN 1992-4:2018 · CEN (European Committee for Standardization), EuropeACI 318-19 · ACI (American Concrete Institute), USAfib Bulletin 58 · fib (Fédération internationale du béton / International Federation for Structural Concrete), International
Typically used with
IS 456IS 875
Also on InfraLens for IS 11502
4Key values4FAQs

BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.

Practical Notes
! This code's design methods are dated and do not include provisions for seismic loading. For modern and critical applications, refer to manufacturer's technical data based on European Technical Approvals (ETA).
! The performance of mechanical anchors is highly dependent on correct installation procedures, including hole diameter, cleaning, and tightening torque. On-site supervision and proof testing (as per Annex A) are crucial.
! The formulas provided are generic; product-specific data from the anchor manufacturer should always be preferred as it accounts for the specific anchor's performance characteristics.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 5.1Design BasisCl. 5.2Tension LoadingCl. 5.3Shear LoadingCl. 5.4Combined Tension and Shear LoadingAnnex A - Pull-Out Tests on Anchors
Pulled from IS 11502:1995. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
steelconcreteanchors

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
EN 1992-4:2018CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
MediumCurrent
Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures — Part 4: Design of fastenings for use in concrete
Defines the modern limit-state design methodology for anchors, superseding older national and ETAG guidelines.
ACI 318-19ACI (American Concrete Institute), USA
MediumCurrent
Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete
Chapter 17, 'Anchoring to Concrete', provides the primary US design requirements using the Concrete Capacity Design (CCD) method.
ETAG 001EOTA (European Organisation for Technical Assessment), Europe
HighWithdrawn
Guideline for European Technical Approval of Metal Anchors for Use in Concrete
Provided the foundational principles and design methods (like CCD) that influenced modern codes and are conceptually similar to what IS 11502 aimed to simplify.
fib Bulletin 58fib (Fédération internationale du béton / International Federation for Structural Concrete), International
HighCurrent
Design of anchorages in concrete
A state-of-the-art report that consolidates global knowledge on anchor design, forming the basis for many modern codes like EN 1992-4.
Key Differences
≠IS 11502 uses a basic Allowable Stress Design (WSD) approach, providing a single 'permissible load' derived from applying a global factor of safety to ultimate test loads.
≠Modern international standards (EN 1992-4, ACI 318) mandate a Limit State Design (LSD) approach, specifically the Concrete Capacity Design (CCD) method, which explicitly checks all potential failure modes (steel, pull-out, concrete cone, splitting, pry-out).
≠IS 11502 does not differentiate between cracked and uncracked concrete in its design provisions, which is a critical distinction in modern anchor design as cracking can reduce concrete breakout capacity by 30-50%.
≠The Indian standard has no specific requirements for seismic design, whereas modern codes have extensive rules for anchor qualification, ductility, and design capacity reductions in seismic applications.
≠Group and edge effects are handled with simple, often conservative, reduction factors in IS 11502, while modern codes use detailed modification factors based on the geometry of the specific failure mode's stress field (e.g., projected cone area).
Key Similarities
≈All standards are fundamentally based on empirical testing of anchors to determine their basic performance characteristics, which then inform the design calculations or tabulated values.
≈All codes recognize that anchor capacity is limited by both the steel strength of the anchor itself and the strength of the concrete base material.
≈The concepts of minimum anchor spacing and edge distance are central to all standards to prevent premature failure due to anchor group interaction or concrete edge breakout.
≈All standards incorporate a factor of safety, though it is applied differently (global factor in IS 11502 vs. partial safety/strength reduction factors in modern codes).
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Design Safety ConceptWorking Stress Design (WSD): A global Factor of Safety (min. 3.0) is applied to the ultimate load.Limit State Design (LSD): Partial safety factors (γ) are used for loads and material resistances (φ).EN 1992-4:2018 / ACI 318-19
Concrete Breakout Design (Tension)No explicit calculation; relies on tabulated permissible loads from tests.Capacity is calculated based on a projected breakout cone area (A_c,N) modified for geometry and conditions.ACI 318-19
Cracked Concrete ConsiderationNot explicitly required. Design values are for uncracked concrete unless stated otherwise.Mandatory consideration. Requires anchors qualified for cracked concrete, with significantly reduced design strength.EN 1992-4:2018
Seismic Design ProvisionsNone.Requires specially qualified anchors and includes specific design rules for ductility and reduced capacity.ACI 318-19
Characteristic Spacing (Tension)Uses a single minimum spacing value (e.g., 120 mm for M12 sleeve anchor).Defined as 's_cr,N' where group effects begin, typically 3.0 times the effective embedment depth (3*h_ef).EN 1992-4:2018
Characteristic Edge Distance (Tension)Uses a single minimum edge distance value (e.g., 60 mm for M12 sleeve anchor).Defined as 'c_cr,N' where edge effects begin, typically 1.5 times the effective embedment depth (1.5*h_ef).EN 1992-4:2018
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values4

Quick Reference Values
Interaction formula exponent for combined loads5/3
Minimum factor of safety on ultimate test load3.0
Assumed angle of concrete failure cone from anchor head45 degrees
Coefficient for concrete cone capacity (N p)0.40
Key Formulas
(Ns/Nn)^(5/3) + (Vs/Vn)^(5/3) <= 1.0 — Interaction formula for combined tension and shear
N_p = 0.4 * A_p * sqrt(fck) — Characteristic strength for concrete cone failure in tension
Vs = 0.45 * fy * As — Design shear strength of anchor steel

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 5.1 - Design Basis
Clause 5.2 - Tension Loading
Clause 5.3 - Shear Loading
Clause 5.4 - Combined Tension and Shear Loading
Annex A - Pull-Out Tests on Anchors

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 456:2000Plain and Reinforced Concrete - Code of Pract...
→
IS 875:1987Design Loads (Other than Earthquake) for Buil...
→

Frequently Asked Questions4

How does the code handle combined tension and shear on an anchor?+
It uses an interaction equation: (Ns/Nn)^(5/3) + (Vs/Vn)^(5/3) ≤ 1.0, where Ns and Vs are applied loads and Nn and Vn are the capacities in pure tension and shear, respectively (Clause 5.4).
What is the primary failure mode for a standard anchor in tension?+
For an anchor with adequate embedment depth, the typical failure mode is the breakout of a cone of concrete originating from the anchor head (Clause 5.2.2).
Does this code cover design for seismic conditions?+
No, IS 11502 does not include specific provisions for the design of anchors under seismic loads. Specialized anchors and design methods are required for such applications.
What factor of safety is recommended for site tests?+
For determining the allowable load from on-site pull-out tests, a minimum factor of safety of 3.0 should be applied to the ultimate test load (Clause 5.1.2).

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