ACI Adhesive Anchor Installer Certification Practice Exam

Which type of failure does not occur in adhesive anchor failure in tension?

1. Steel failure

2. Concrete breakout failure

3. Concrete pryout failure

4. Concrete shear failure

The correct answer is: Concrete pryout failure

Concrete pryout failure does not occur in adhesive anchor failure in tension. This type of failure is associated with specific conditions where an anchor is subjected to lateral loading, rather than axial tension. In tension loading scenarios, the other types of failures listed—steel failure, concrete breakout failure, and concrete shear failure—are more relevant. Steel failure happens when the steel element of the anchor reaches its ultimate tensile strength before the adhesive bond or the concrete fails. Concrete breakout failure occurs when the concrete around the anchor is not able to resist the tensile load, leading to a section of concrete breaking away. Concrete shear failure, while not as common in a pure tension loading case, refers to the structural inability of the concrete to resist the applied shear forces. Concrete pryout failure, however, is a phenomenon that primarily arises from horizontal forces or loads acting on the anchor, which would not pertain to a scenario focused solely on tension load. Therefore, it is correctly identified as the exception in the context of adhesive anchor failures in tension.