Foundation Bolt Strength

[yooperdave]

Drilling a deep hole appears to be causing more harm than what it is worth.

How can you be assured that the epoxy will completely fill the entire void? A deep small bore hole would be an error-likely situation. A larger diameter hole would allow the epoxy to better seek the depth so it can engage with the rod and the concrete.

We have the potential of making a mountain from a mole hill.

Can you put additional dead load over the wall to reduce the net uplift force?

I like to leave things alone if at all possible.

Yooper Dave

 

[2manyrocks]

Mountain from mole hill--that's what I suspect, too. There's a certain theoretical paper strength and then there is the real life installed strength.

 

[CurlyDave]

Let me explain the concern I have.

I agree, as a practical matter it is a mountain out of a molehill -- right up until the very second the inspector refuses to sign off on it because it doesn't match the plans.

Then it becomes a huge obstacle. And the frustrating part is that I know what I have is better than what the engineer wants, but I don't have a good way to prove it.

 

[2manyrocks]

I'm certainly no civil engineer, but surely there are some established parameters for determining the strength of bolts embedded in concrete versus all thread installed in freshly drilled hole with a washer at the end. There are engineering studies for so many different things if you can just find the one you need.

 

[inmaestro]

Have you considered having a pull test performed? Might cost a few bucks (I paid $200 in Houston for this test.) Engineer puts on the test rig and pulls until you reach or exceed the design requirements. As long as it holds, your engineer should accept the test. Good luck.