ACI Adhesive Anchor Installer key terms

A post-installed anchor set in a drilled hole using a chemical adhesive that bonds the threaded rod or rebar to the concrete, transferring load through the hardened adhesive rather than mechanical expansion.

An anchoring adhesive supplied as resin and hardener that must be mixed in the correct ratio before injection. Mixing occurs through a static mixer nozzle or within a capsule during installation.

A glass or foil capsule containing pre-measured resin and hardener that is placed in the drilled hole and ruptured by a spinning installation tool, mixing the components as the anchor is driven.

A disposable nozzle containing internal helical elements that blends the two adhesive components as they are pumped through, delivering uniformly mixed material to the hole.

The initial portion of adhesive extruded and thrown away until the expelled material shows a uniform color, confirming complete mixing before injection into the hole begins.

The working period after mixing during which the adhesive remains flowable enough to inject and insert the anchor before it begins to stiffen and lose workability.

The interval after anchor insertion during which the adhesive must remain undisturbed to develop sufficient strength before any load is applied. Cure time varies with temperature.

The dependence of adhesive gel and cure times on concrete and ambient temperature. Colder conditions lengthen both times, while hot conditions shorten them and may require special handling.

The required sequence of brushing and blowing or vacuuming the drilled hole to remove dust and debris so the adhesive can bond to clean concrete surfaces.

A wire or nylon brush sized to the drill diameter, used to scrub the hole walls and loosen dust that must then be removed before adhesive injection.

A hand or powered device that delivers compressed air into the drilled hole to expel loose dust and debris as part of the required cleaning sequence.

The bored opening in concrete that receives the adhesive and anchor. Its diameter, depth, and condition must match the anchor manufacturer's published installation instructions.

The distance the anchor is set into the concrete, measured from the surface to the embedded end. It governs the bond area and the anchor's load capacity.

The portion of the anchor actually bonded within the concrete after accounting for the hole bottom and any adhesive fill, which determines the load transfer length.

The resistance of the adhesive-to-concrete and adhesive-to-anchor interfaces to being pulled apart, which controls how much load the installed anchor can carry.

A length of all-thread steel used as the anchor element, set into adhesive in the drilled hole and projecting above the surface to accept a nut and fixture.

Deformed reinforcing steel bar that may be post-installed with adhesive to create dowels or extensions, relying on the deformations and adhesive for load transfer.

The process of dispensing mixed adhesive into the drilled hole from the bottom upward, filling the annular space around the anchor without trapping air voids.

The gap between the anchor element and the wall of the drilled hole that must be completely filled with adhesive for the anchor to perform as designed.

A field or laboratory procedure that applies a tensile load to an installed anchor to verify installation quality or determine the actual capacity achieved.

A specified test load applied to an anchor without causing failure or permanent deformation, used to confirm that installation meets acceptance criteria.

A force that pulls directly away from the concrete surface along the anchor axis, resisted by the adhesive bond and the concrete cone around the anchor.

A force applied parallel to the concrete surface and perpendicular to the anchor axis, resisted by the anchor's stiffness and the surrounding concrete.

The distance from the center of an anchor to the nearest free edge of the concrete, which affects the anchor's resistance to concrete breakout under load.

The center-to-center distance between adjacent anchors, which influences how their load-resisting zones overlap and the group's overall capacity.

A failure mode in which a cone or wedge of concrete is pulled out around the anchor, often governed by embedment depth, edge distance, and concrete strength.

The compressive capacity of the concrete, typically measured by cylinder tests, which influences the anchor's design capacity and must meet the manufacturer's minimum requirement.

A rotary drill that uses percussive blows to bore holes in concrete, producing a hole of the specified diameter that must then be cleaned before adhesive placement.

A rotary tool with a diamond-impregnated bit that cuts a smooth-walled hole in concrete, often requiring a roughening step before adhesive anchoring.

The manufacturer's published written and graphic directions that specify hole size, cleaning, mixing, curing, and limits for a given adhesive anchor product.

The product-specific documentation that governs proper installation and takes precedence over general practice; installers must follow it exactly for the anchor to qualify.

An anchor placed into concrete after the concrete has cured, as opposed to a cast-in-place anchor, using adhesive or mechanical means to develop capacity.

A program of tests conducted to demonstrate that an adhesive anchor system meets specified performance criteria under defined conditions, supporting its published design values.

Independent third-party observation and verification of anchor installation to confirm that the work follows the approved instructions and inspection requirements.

The condition of concrete containing excess moisture, which can interfere with adhesive bonding. Some adhesives require dry concrete and specific moisture conditions to perform.