Anchor bolts are threaded steel rods used to attach steel base connections to concrete. Because they provide the connection between material supplied by the glulam manufacturer and the foundation designed by others, they create a point of shared design responsibility.
If the glulam and connections are designed by the manufacturer, they are typically responsible to verify that the anchor bolt size and type are sufficient for the anchor bolt to steel connection and to provide base reactions for the foundation engineer. The foundation engineer is responsible for the design of the anchor bolt capacity in concrete, the embedment type, and clearance from foundation reinforcing.
Anchor bolt material is not provided by the glulam manufacturer, so that the glulam schedule will not impact foundation construction.
Anchor bolts can be cast in place (installed when concrete is poured), which provides greater embedment capacity and lower cost. Or, they can be drilled and installed after concrete has cured, either as expansion anchors or adhesive anchors, which provides greater placement accuracy.
*Wednesday's Word Of The Week is a feature on Unalam's Wood Times Blog. Each Wednesday our structural engineer, Rik Vandermeulen, will discuss a new term associated with glulam manufacturing. He will do this until we run out of words. If there is a timber or glulam term that you have heard of and want to know more about, let us know in the comments.
