1.

0 INTRODUCTION

Column base plate connections are the critical interface the equations shown herein are independent of the load ap-
between the steel structure and the foundation. These con- proach and thus are applicable to either design methodology.
nections are used in buildings to support gravity loads and These are shown in singular format. Other derived equations
function as part of lateral-load-resisting systems. In addition, are based on the particular load approach and are presented
they are used for mounting of equipment and in outdoor sup- in a side-by-side format of comparable equations for LRFD
port structures, where they may be affected by vibration and or ASD application.
fatigue due to wind loads. The typical components of a column base are shown in
Base plates and anchor rods are often the last structural Figure 1.1.
steel items to be designed but are the first items required Material selection and design details of base plates can
on the jobsite. The schedule demands along with the prob- significantly affect the cost of fabrication and erection of
lems that can occur at the interface of structural steel and steel structures, as well as the performance under load.
reinforced concrete make it essential that the design details Relevant aspects of each of these subjects are discussed
take into account not only structural requirements, but also briefly in the next section. Not only is it important to design
include consideration of constructability issues, especially the column-base-plate connection for strength requirements,
anchor rod setting procedures and tolerances. The impor- it is also important to recognize that these connections
tance of the accurate placement of anchor rods cannot be affect the behavior of the structure. Assumptions are
over-emphasized. This is the one of the key components to made in structural analysis about the boundary conditions
safely erecting and accurately plumbing the building. represented by the connections. Models comprising beam or
The material in this Guide is intended to provide guidelines truss elements typically idealize the column base connection
for engineers and fabricators to design, detail, and specify as either a pinned or fixed boundary condition. Improper
column-base-plate and anchor rod connections in a manner characterization can lead to error in the computed drifts,
that avoids common fabrication and erection problems. This leading to unrecognized second-order moments if the
Guide is based on the 2005 AISC Specification for Structur- stiffness is overestimated, or excessive first-floor column
al Steel Buildings (AISC, 2005), and includes guidance for sizes if the stiffness is underestimated. If more accurate
designs made in accordance with load and resistance factor analyses are desired, it may be necessary to input the stiffness
design (LRFD) or allowable stress design (ASD). of the column-base-plate connection in the elastic and plastic
This Guide follows the format of the 2005 AISC Specifi- ranges, and for seismic loading, possibly even the cyclic
cation, developing strength parameters for foundation sys- force-deformation relations. The forces and deformations
tem design in generic terms that facilitate either load and from the structural analyses used to design the column-base-
resistance factor design (LRFD) or allowable strength de- plate connection are dependent on the choice of the column-
sign (ASD). Column bases and portions of the anchorage base-plate connection details.
design generally can be designed in a direct approach based
on either LRFD or ASD load combinations. The one area
of anchorage design that is not easily designed by ASD is
the embedment of anchor rods into concrete. This is due to
the common use of ACI 318 Appendix D, which is exclu-
sively based on the strength approach (LRFD) for the design
of such embedment. Other steel elements of the foundation
system, including the column base plate and the sizing of
anchor diameters are equally proficient to evaluation using
LRFD or ASD load methods. In cases such as anchors sub-
jected to neither tension nor shear, the anchorage develop-
ment requirement may be a relatively insignificant factor.
The generic approach in development of foundation de-
sign parameters taken in this Guide permits the user a choice
to develop the loads based on either the LRFD or ASD ap-
proach. The derivations of foundation design parameters, as
presented herein, are then either multiplied by the resistance
factor, φ, or divided by a safety factor, Ω, based on the ap-
propriate load system utilized in the analysis; consistent
with the approach used in the 2005 Specification. Many of Figure 1.1. Column base connection components.

DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN / 1
 Table 2.1. Base Plate Materials
Thickness (tp) Plate Availability
tp ≤ 4 in. ASTM A36 [a]
ASTM A572 Gr 42 or 50
ASTM A588 Gr 42 or 50
4 in. < tp ≤ 6 in. ASTM A36 [a]
ASTM A572 Gr 42
ASTM A588 Gr 42
tp > 6 in. ASTM A36
[a]
Preferred material specification

The vast majority of building columns are designed for the stability required during erection with an ironworker on
axial compression only with little or no uplift. For such col- the column. This regulation has essentially eliminated the
umns, the simple column-base-plate connection detail shown typical detail with two anchor rods except for small post-
in Figure 1.1 is sufficient. The design of column-base-plate type structures that weigh less than 300 lb (e.g., doorway
connections for axial compression only is presented in Sec- portal frames).
tion 3. The design is simple and need not be encumbered This Guide supersedes the original AISC Design Guide 1,
with many of the more complex issues discussed in Appen- Column Base Plates. In addition to the OSHA regulations,
dix A, which pertains to special structures. Anchor rods for there has been significant research and improved design
gravity columns are often not required for the permanent guidelines issued subsequent to the publication of Design
structure and need only be sized to provide for column sta- Guide 1 in 1990. The ACI Building Code Requirements for
bility during erection. Structural Concrete (ACI, 2002) has improved provisions
Column base plate connections are also capable of trans- for the pullout and breakout strength of anchor rods and
mitting uplift forces and can transmit shear through the an- other embedded anchors. Design guidance for anchor rods
chor rods if required. If the base plate remains in compres- based on the ACI recommendations is included, along with
sion, shear can be transmitted through friction against the practical suggestions for detailing and installing anchor rod
grout pad or concrete; thus, the anchor rods are not required assemblies. These guidelines deal principally with cast-in-
to be designed for shear. Large shear forces can be resisted place anchors and with their design, installation, inspection,
by bearing against concrete, either by embedding the col- and repair in column-base-plate connections.
umn base or by adding a shear lug under the base plate. The AISC Design Guide 7, 2nd edition, Industrial Build-
Column base plate moment connections can be used to ings: Roofs to Column Anchorage (Fisher, 2004), contains
resist wind and seismic loads on the building frame. Moment additional examples and discussion relative to the design of
at the column base can be resisted by development of a force anchor rods.
couple between bearing on the concrete and tension in some
or all of the anchor rods. 2.0 MATERIALS, FABRICATION,
This guide will enable the designer to design and specify INSTALLATION, AND REPAIRS
economical column base plate details that perform adequate-
ly for the specified demand. The objective of the design pro- 2.1 Material Specifications
cess in this Guide is that under service loading and under ex-
treme loading in excess of the design loads, the behavior of The AISC Specification lists a number of plate and threaded
column base plates should be close to that predicted by the rod materials that are structurally suitable for use in base
approximate mathematical equations in this Design Guide. plate and anchor rod designs. Based on cost and availability,
Historically, two anchor rods have been used in the area the materials shown in Tables 2.1 and 2.2 are recommended
bounded by column flanges and web. Recent regulations of for typical building design.
the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) Safety Standards for Steel Erection (OSHA, 2001) 2.2 Base Plate Material Selection
(Subpart R of 29 CFR Part 1926) require four anchor rods in Base plates should be designed using ASTM A36 material
almost all column-base-plate connections and require all col- unless the availability of an alternative grade is confirmed
umns to be designed for a specific bending moment to reflect

2 / DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN
 Table 2.2. Anchor Rod Materials

Tensile Nominal Tensile Nominal Shear Nominal Shear Stress Maximum

Material
Strength, Stress,[a] Stress (X type),[a, b] (N type),[a, c] Diameter,
ASTM
Fu (ksi) Fnt = 0.75Fu (ksi) Fnv = 0.50Fu (ksi) Fnv = 0.40Fu (ksi) in.
Gr 36 [d] 58 43.5 29.0 23.2 4
F1554

Gr 55 75 56.3 37.5 30.0 4

Gr 105 125 93.8 62.5 50.0 3
120 90.0 60.0 48.0 1
A449 105 78.8 57.5 42.0 1�
90 67.5 45.0 36.0 3
A36 58 43.5 29.0 23.2 4
A307 58 43.5 29.0 23.2 4
A354 150 112 75.0 60.0 2�
Gr BD 140 105 70.0 56.0 4
[a]
Nominal stress on unthreaded body for cut threads (based on major thread diameter for rolled threads)
[b]
Threads excluded from shear plane
[c]
Threads included in the shear plane
[d]
Preferred material specification

prior to specification. Since ASTM A36 plate is readily avail- 2.3 Base Plate Fabrication and Finishing
able, the plates can often be cut from stock material. There
Typically, base plates are thermally cut to size. Anchor rod
is seldom a reason to use high-strength material, since in-
and grout holes may be either drilled or thermally cut. Sec-
creasing the thickness will provide increased strength where
tion M2.2 of the AISC Specification lists requirements for
needed. Plates are available in 8-in. increments up to 14 in.
thermal cutting as follows:
thickness and in 4-in. increments above this. The base plate
sizes specified should be standardized during design to fa- “…thermally cut free edges that will be subject to calculated
cilitate purchasing and cutting of the material. static tensile stress shall be free of round-bottom gouges
When designing base plate connections, it is important to greater than x in. deep … and sharp V-shaped notches.
consider that material is generally less expensive than labor Gouges deeper than x in. … and notches shall be removed
and, where possible, economy may be gained by using thick- by grinding and repaired by welding.”
er plates rather than detailing stiffeners or other reinforce-
Because free edges of the base plate are not subject to tensile
ment to achieve the same strength with a thinner base plate.
stress, these requirements are not mandatory for the perimeter
A possible exception to this rule is the case of moment-type
edges; however, they provide a workmanship guide that can
bases that resist large moments. For example, in the design
be used as acceptance criteria. Anchor rod holes, which may
of a crane building, the use of a seat or stool at the column
be subject to tensile stress, should meet the requirements of
base may be more economical, if it eliminates the need for
Section M2.2. Generally, round-bottom grooves within the
large complete-joint-penetration (CJP) groove welds to
limits specified are acceptable, but sharp notches must be
heavy plates that require special material specifications.
repaired. Anchor rod hole sizes and grouting are covered in
Most column base plates are designed as square to match
Sections 2.6 and 2.10 of this design guide.
the foundation shape and more readily accommodate square
Finishing requirements for column bases on steel plates
anchor rod patterns. Exceptions to this include moment-
are covered in Section M2.8 of the AISC Specification as
resisting bases and columns that are adjacent to walls.
follows:
Many structural engineers have established minimum
thicknesses for typical gravity columns. For posts and light “Steel bearing plates 2 in. … or less in thickness are permit-
HSS columns, the minimum plate thickness is typically 2 in., ted without milling, provided a satisfactory contact bearing
and for other structural columns a plate thickness of w in. is is obtained. Steel bearing plates over 2 in. … but not over 4
commonly accepted as the minimum thickness specified. in. … in thickness are permitted to be straightened by press-

DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN / 3
ing or, if presses are not available, by milling for bearing between the web and flange add very little strength and
surfaces … to obtain a satisfactory contact bearing. Steel are very costly.
bearing plates over 4 in. … in thickness shall be milled for
bearing surfaces ….” • For most wide-flange columns subject to axial compres-
sion only, welding on one side of each flange (see Figure 2.1)
Two exceptions are noted: The bottom surface need not be with c-in. fillet welds will provide adequate strength
milled when the base plate is to be grouted, and the top sur- and the most economical detail. When these welds are
face need not be milled when CJP groove welds are used to not adequate for columns with moment or axial tension,
connect the column to the baseplate. consider adding fillet welds on all faces up to w in. in size
AISC Specification, Section M4.4, defines a satisfactory before using groove welds.
bearing surface as follows:
“Lack of contact bearing not exceeding a gap of z in. … • For rectangular HSS columns subject to axial compres-
regardless of the type of splice used … is permitted. If the sion only, welding on the flats of the four sides only will
gap exceeds z in. … but is less than � in. … and if an engi- avoid having to make an out-of-position weld on the
neering investigation shows that sufficient contact area does corners. Note, however, that corners must be welded for
not exist, the gap shall be packed out with nontapered steel HSS columns moment or axial tension and anchor rods
shims. Shims need not be other than mild steel, regardless of at the corners of the base plate since the critical yield line
the grade of main material.” will form in the plate at the corners of the HSS.

While the AISC Specification requirements for finishing • The minimum fillet weld requirements have been changed
are prescriptive in form, it is important to ensure that a satis- in the 2005 AISC Specification. The minimum-size fillet
factory contact bearing surface is provided. By applying the weld is now based on the thinner of the materials being
provisions of Section M4.4, it may not be necessary to mill joined.
plates over 4 in. thick if they are flat enough to meet the gap Most column base plates are shop welded to the column
requirements under the column. Standard practice is to order shaft. In the past it was common to detail heavy base plates
all plates over approximately 3 in. with an extra 4 in. to 2 for multi-story building as loose pieces to be set and grouted
in. over the design thickness to allow for milling. Typically, before erecting the column shaft. The base plate was detailed
only the area directly under the column shaft is milled. The with three adjusting screws, as shown in Figure 2.2, and the
base elevation for setting the column is determined in this milled surface was carefully set to elevation.
case by the elevation at the bottom of the column shaft with This approach had the advantage of reducing the weight
the grout space and shims adjusted accordingly. of heavy members for handling and shipping and provided a
fully grouted base plate in place to receive a very heavy col-
2.4 Base Plate Welding
The structural requirements for column base plate welds
may vary greatly between columns loaded in compression
only and columns in which moment, shear, and/or tension
forces are present. Welds attaching base plates to columns
are often sized to develop the strength of the anchor rods in
tension, which can most often be achieved with a relatively
small fillet weld. For example, a c-in., 22-in.-long fillet
weld to each column flange will fully develop a 1-in.-diameter
ASTM F1554 Grade 36 anchor rod when the directional
strength increase for fillet welds loaded transversely is used,
Alternative criteria may be advisable when rod diameters are
large or material strength levels are high.
A few basic guidelines on base plate welding are provided
here:
• Fillet welds are preferred to groove welds for all but large
moment-resisting bases.

• The use of the weld-all-around symbol should be avoided,

especially on wide-flange shapes, since the small amount
of weld across the toes of the flanges and in the radius Figure 2.1. Typical gravity column base plate weld.

4 / DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN
umn shaft. The column may or may not be welded after erec- The ASTM specification allows F1554 anchor rods to be
tion depending on the structural requirements and the type of supplied either straight (threaded with nut for anchorage),
erection aid provided. Most erectors now prefer to have the bent or headed. Rods up to approximately 1 in. in diameter
base plate shop welded to the column whenever possible. are sometimes supplied with heads hot forged similar to a
structural bolt. Thereafter, it is more common that the rods
2.5 Anchor Rod Material will be threaded and nutted.
Hooked-type anchor rods have been extensively used in
As shown in Table 2.2, the preferred specification for anchor
the past. However, hooked rods have a very limited pullout
rods is ASTM F1554, with Grade 36 being the most common
strength compared with that of headed rods or threaded rods
strength level used. The availability of other grades should
with a nut for anchorage. Therefore, current recommended
be confirmed prior to specification.
practice is to use headed rods or threaded rods with a nut for
ASTM F1554 Grade 55 anchor rods are used when there
anchorage.
are large tension forces due to moment connections or uplift
The addition of plate washers or other similar devices
from overturning. ASTM F1554 Grade 105 is a special high-
does not increase the pullout strength of the anchor rod and
strength rod grade and generally should be used only when
can create construction problems by interfering with rein-
it is not possible to develop the required strength using larger
forcing steel placement or concrete consolidation under the
Grade 36 or Grade 55 rods.
plate. Thus, it is recommended that the anchorage device be
Unless otherwise specified, anchor rods will be supplied
limited to either a heavy hex nut or a head on the rod. As an
with unified coarse (UNC) threads with a Class 2a tolerance,
exception, the addition of plate washers may be of use when
as permitted in ASTN F1554. While ASTM F1554 permits
high-strength anchor rods are used or when concrete blowout
standard hex nuts, all nuts for anchor rods, especially those
could occur (see Section 3.22 of this Guide). In these cases,
used in base plates with large oversize holes, should be fur-
calculations should be made to determine if an increase in
nished as heavy hex nuts, preferably ASTM A563 Grade A
the bearing area is necessary. Additionally, it should be con-
or DH for Grade 105.
firmed that the plate size specified will work with the rein-
ASTM F1554 anchor rods are required to be color coded
forcing steel and concrete placement requirements.
to allow easy identification in the field. The color codes are
ASTM F1554 Grade 55 anchor rods can be ordered with
as follows:
a supplementary requirement, S1, which limits the carbon
Grade 36 ............................................................... Blue equivalent content to a maximum of 45%, to provide weld-
Grade 55 ............................................................Yellow ability when needed. Adding this supplement is helpful
Grade 105 .............................................................. Red should welding become required for fixes in the field. Grade
36 is typically weldable without supplement.
In practice, Grade 36 is considered the default grade and There are also two supplemental provisions available for
often is not color coded. Grades 55 and 105 regarding Charpy V-Notch (CVN) tough-
ness. These provide for CVN testing of 15 ft-lbs at either 40 °F (S4)
or at −20 °F (S5). Note, however, that anchor rods typically
have sufficient fracture toughness without these supplemen-
tal specifications. Additional fracture toughness is expensive
and generally does not make much difference in the time to
failure for anchor rods subjected to fatigue loading. Although
fracture toughness may correspond to a greater crack length
at the time of failure (because cracks grow at an exponential
rate) 95% of the fatigue life of the anchor rod is consumed
when the crack size is less than a few millimeters. This is
also the reason it is not cost effective to perform ultrasonic
testing or other nondestructive tests on anchor rods to look
for fatigue cracks. There is only a small window between the
time cracks are large enough to detect and small enough to
not cause fracture. Thus, it generally is more cost effective
to design additional redundancy into the anchor rods rather
than specifying supplemental CVN properties.

Figure 2.2. Base plate with adjusting screws.

DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN / 5
 Table 2.3. Recommended Sizes for Anchor Rod Holes in Base Plates
Anchor Rod Hole Min. Washer Min. Washer
Diameter, in. Diameter, in. Dimension, in. Thickness, in.
w 1c 2 �
d 1b 2� c
1 1m 3 a
1� 2z 3 �
1� 2c 3� �
1w 2w 4 s
2 3� 5 w
2� 3� 5� d
Notes: 1. Circular or square washers meeting the size shown are acceptable.
2. Adequate clearance must be provided for the washer size selected.
3. See discussion below regarding the use of alternate 1z-in. hole size for w-in.-diameter anchor rods, with plates less than 1� in. thick.

Galvanized anchor rods are often used when the column- do not allow the column to be properly positioned. Because
base-plate assembly is exposed and subject to corrosion. OSHA requires any modification of anchor rods to be ap-
Either the hot-dip galvanizing process (ASTM 153) or the proved by the Engineer of Record, it is important to provide
mechanical galvanizing process (ASTM B695) is allowed as large a hole as possible to accommodate setting toler-
in ASTM F1554; however, all threaded components of the ances. The AISC-recommended hole sizes for anchor rods
fastener assembly must be galvanized by the same process. are given in Table 2.3.
Mixing of rods galvanized by one process and nuts by an- These hole sizes originated in the first edition of Design
other may result in an unworkable assembly. It is recom- Guide 1, based on field problems in achieving the column
mended that galvanized anchor rods and nuts be purchased setting tolerances required for the previous somewhat small-
from the same supplier and shipped preassembled. Because er recommended sizes. They were later included in the AISC
this is not an ASTM requirement, this should be specified on Steel Construction Manual.
the contract documents. The washer diameters shown in Table 2.3 are sized to cov-
Note also that galvanizing increases friction between the er the entire hole when the anchor rod is located at the edge
nut and the rod and even though the nuts are over tapped, of the hole. Plate washers are usually custom fabricated by
special lubrication may be required. thermal cutting the shape and holes from plate or bar stock.
ASTM A449, A36 and A307 specifications are listed in The washer may be either a plain circular washer or a rectan-
Table 2.2 for comparison purposes, because some suppliers gular plate washer as long as the thickness is adequate to pre-
are more familiar with these specifications. Note that ASTM vent pulling through the hole. The plate washer thicknesses
F1554 grades match up closely with many aspects of these shown in the table are similar to the recommendation in De-
older material specifications. Note also that these older ma- sign Guide 7, that the washer thickness be approximately
terial specifications contain almost none of the anchor rod one-third the anchor rod diameter. The same thickness is ad-
specific requirements found in ASTM F1554. equate for all grades of ASTM F1554, since the pull-through
Drilled-in epoxy-type anchor rods are discussed in sev- criterion requires appropriate stiffness as well as strength.
eral places in this Design Guide. This category of anchor rod For anchor rods for columns designed for axial compres-
does not include wedge-type mechanical anchors, which are sion only, the designer may consider using a smaller hole
not recommended for anchor rods because they must be ten- diameter of 1z in. with w-in.-diameter rods and base plates
sioned to securely lock in the wedge device. Column move- less than 14 in. thick, as allowed in Footnote 3 in Table 2.3.
ment during erection can cause wedge-type anchor rods to This will allow the holes to be punched up to this plate thick-
loosen. ness, and the use of ASTM F844 (USS Standard) washers in
lieu of the custom washers of dimensions shown in the table.
2.6 Anchor Rod Holes and Washers This potential fabrication savings must be weighed against
possible problems with placement of anchor rods out of tol-
The most common field problem is anchor rod placements
erance.
that either do not fit within the anchor rod hole pattern or

6 / DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN
 For anchor rods designed to resist moment or axial ten- location and alignment. This is especially critical in concrete
sion, the hole and washer sizes recommended in Table 2.3 piers and walls where there is less room for adjustment in
should be used. The added setting tolerance is especially im- the field. Anchor rods in piers should never extend below the
portant when the full or near-full strength of the rod in ten- bottom of the pier into the footing because this would require
sion is needed for design purposes, because almost any field that the anchor rods be partially embedded prior to forming
fix in this case will be very difficult. the pier, which makes it almost impossible to maintain align-
Additional recommendations regarding washers and an- ment. When the pier height is less than the required anchor
chor rod holes are as follows: rod embedment length, the pier should be eliminated and the
column extended to set the base plate on the footing.
• Washers should not be welded to the base plate, except
when the anchor rods are designed to resist shear at the
2.8 Anchor Rod Placement and Tolerances
column base (see Section 3.5).
Proper placement of anchor rods provides for the safe, fast,
• ASTM F436 washers are not used on anchor rods because and economical erection of the structural steel frame.
they generally are of insufficient size. The placement process begins with the preparation of an
anchor rod layout drawing. While it is possible to lay out
• Washers for anchor rods are not, and do not need to be, anchor rods using the foundation design drawings and the
hardened. column schedule, there will be fewer problems if the struc-
tural steel detailer coordinates all anchor rod details with the
2.7 Anchor Rod Sizing and Layout column-base-plate assembly. The anchor rod layout drawing
will show all anchor rod marks along with layout dimensions
Use w-in.-diameter ASTM F1554 Grade 36 rod material
and elevation requirements. Because of schedule pressures,
whenever possible. Where more strength is required, consid-
there is sometimes a rush to set anchor rods using a drawing
er increasing rod diameter up to about 2 in. in ASTM F1554
submitted for approval. This should be avoided; only place-
Grade 36 material before switching to a higher-strength ma-
ment drawings that have been designated as “Released for
terial grade.
Construction” should be used for this important work.
Anchor rod details should always specify ample threaded
Layout (and after-placement surveying) of all anchor rods
length. Whenever possible, threaded lengths should be speci-
should be done by an experienced construction surveyor.
fied at least 3 in. greater than required, to allow for variations
The surveyor should be able to read structural drawings and
in setting elevation.
knowledgeable of construction practices. A typical licensed
Anchor rod layouts should, where possible, use a symmet-
land surveyor may or may not have the necessary knowledge
rical pattern in both directions and as few different layouts
and experience for this type of work.
as possible. Thus, the typical layout should have four anchor
Templates should be made for each anchor rod setting
rods in a square pattern.
pattern. Typically, templates are made of plywood on site.
Anchor rod layouts should provide ample clearance dis-
The advantage of plywood templates is they are relatively
tance for the washer from the column shaft and its weld, as
inexpensive to make and are easy to fasten in place to the
well as a reasonable edge distance. When the hole edge is
wood foundation forms. The anchor rods can be held securely
not subject to a lateral force, even an edge distance that pro-
in place and relatively straight by using a nut on each side
vides a clear dimension as small as 2 in. of material from
of the template. Steel templates consisting of flat plates or
the edge of the hole to the edge of the plate will normally
angle-type frames are sometimes used for very large anchor
suffice, although field issues with anchor rod placement may
rod assemblies requiring close setting tolerances. Provisions
necessitate a larger dimension to allow some slotting of the
should be made to secure the template in place, such as with
base plate holes. When the hole edge is subject to a lateral
nailing holes provided in the steel plate. Steel plate templates
force, the edge distance provided must be large enough for
can also be reused as setting plates.
the necessary force transfer.
Embedded templates are sometimes used with large an-
Keep the construction sequence in mind when laying out
chor rod assemblies to help maintain alignment of the rods
anchor rods adjacent to walls and other obstructions. Make
during concrete placement. The template should be kept as
sure the erector will have the access necessary to set the col-
small as possible to avoid interference with the reinforcing
umn and tighten the nuts on the anchor rods. Where special
steel and concrete placement. When using a single exposed
settings are required at exterior walls, moment bases, and
template, the reinforcing steel can be placed before position-
other locations, clearly identify these settings on both the
ing the anchor rods in the form. With the embedded tem-
column schedule and foundation drawings.
plate, the anchor rod assembly must be placed first and the
Anchor rod layouts must be coordinated with the reinforc-
reinforcing steel placed around or though the template. Care
ing steel to ensure that the rods can be installed in the proper
must be taken to consolidate the concrete around the tem-

DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN / 7
plate to eliminate voids. This is especially important if the Thus, ACI 117 is much more generous for embedded items
template serves as part of the anchorage. than the AISC Code of Standard Practice (AISC, 2005) is
When the templates are removed, the anchor rods should for anchor rod tolerances. Furthermore, since each trade
be surveyed and grid lines marked on each setting. The an- will work to their own industry standard unless the contract
chor rods should then be cleaned and checked to make sure documents require otherwise, it is recommended that the
the nuts can be easily turned and that the vertical alignment is project specifications, typically CSI Division 3, require that
proper. If necessary, the threads should be lubricated. OSHA the anchor rods be set in accordance with the AISC Code of
requires the contractor to review the settings and notify the Standard Practice (AISC, 2005) tolerance requirements, in
Engineer of Record of any anchor rods that will not meet the order to clearly establish a basis for acceptance of the anchor
tolerance required for the hole size specified. rods. It may be helpful to actually list the tolerance require-
As exceptions to the forgoing recommendations, fast-track ments instead of simply providing a reference.
projects and projects with complex layouts may require spe-
cial considerations. In a fast-track project, the steel design 2.9 Column Erection Procedures
and detailing may lag behind the initial foundation work and
OSHA requires the general contractor to notify the erector
the structural layout changed as the job progresses. A project
in writing that the anchor rods are ready for start of steel
with complex layouts may be such that even the most ac-
erection. This notice is intended to ensure that the layout
curate placement possible of anchor rods in concrete forms
has been checked, any required repairs have been made, and
does not facilitate proper fit-up. On these projects, it may be
the concrete has achieved the required strength. The erector
better to use special drilled-in epoxy-type anchor rods rather
then, depending on project requirements, rechecks the layout
than cast-in-place rods.
and sets elevations for each column base.
For fast-track projects, this has the advantage of allowing
There are three common methods of setting elevations:
the foundation work to start without waiting for anchor rods
setting nuts and washers, setting plates, and shim stacks.
and anchor rod layout drawings. For complex layouts, this
Project requirements and local custom generally determine
has the advantage of providing easier and more accurate an-
which of these methods is used. It is important in all methods
chor rod layout for more accurate column erection.
that the erector tighten all of the anchor rods before remov-
Coordination of AISC anchor rod setting tolerances and
ing the erection load line so that the nut and washer are tight
ACI tolerances for embedded items can be an issue. ACI
against the base plate. This is not intended to induce any
117-90, Section 2.3, Placement of embedded items, allows
level of pretension, but rather to ensure that the anchor rod
a tolerance on vertical, lateral, and level alignment of ±1
assembly is firm enough to prevent column base movement
in. AISC Code of Standard Practice (AISC, 2005), Section
during erection. If it is necessary to loosen the nuts to adjust
7.5.1, lists the following tolerances:
column plumb, care should be taken to adequately brace the
column while the adjustment is made.
“(a) The variation in dimension between the centers of any
two Anchor Rods within an Anchor-Rod Group shall be 2.9.1. Setting Nut and Washer Method
equal to or less than 8 in.”
The use of four anchor rods has made the setting nut and
“(b) The variation in dimension between the centers of ad- washer method of column erection very popular, as it is
jacent Anchor-Rod Groups shall be equal to or less than easy and cost effective. Once the setting nuts and washers
4 in.” are set to elevation, there is little chance they will be dis-
turbed. The four-rod layout provides a stable condition for
“(c) The variation in elevation of the tops of Anchor Rods erection, especially if the anchor rods are located outside of
shall be equal to or less than plus or minus 2 in.” the column area. The elevation and plumbness of the column
can be adjusted using the nuts. When designing anchor rods
“(d) The accumulated variation in dimension between cen- using setting nuts and sashers, it is important to remember
ters of Anchor-Rod Groups along the Established Column these rods are also loaded in compression and their strength
Line through multiple Anchor-Rod Groups shall be equal should be checked for push out at the bottom of the footing.
to or less than 4 in. per 100 ft, but not to exceed a total It is recommended that use of the setting nut and washer
of 1 in.” method be limited to columns that are relatively lightly
loaded during erection. Even after the base plate is grouted,
“(e) The variation in dimension from the center of any An- the setting nut will transfer load to the anchor rod, and this
chor-Rod Group to the Established Column Line through should be considered when selecting the method to set the
that group shall be equal to or less than 4 in.” column elevation.

8 / DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN
2.9.2 Setting Plate Method to allow them to be set to elevation and grouted before the
column is set, as illustrated in Figure 2.2. Leveling-screw
Setting plates (sometimes called leveling plates) are a very
assemblies consist of sleeve nuts welded to the sides of the
positive method for setting column base elevations but are
plate and a threaded rod screw that can be adjusted. These
somewhat more costly than setting nuts and washers.
plates should be furnished with hole sizes as shown in Table 2.3.
Setting plates are usually about 4 in. thick and slightly
The column shaft should be detailed with stools or erection
larger than the base plate. Because a plate this thin has a ten-
aids, as required. Where possible, the column attachment to
dency to warp when fabricated, setting plates are typically
the base plate should avoid field welding because of the dif-
limited to a maximum dimension of about 24 in.
ficulty in preheating a heavy base plate for welding.
If the setting plate is also to be used as a template, the
holes are made z in. larger than the anchor rod diameter.
2.10 Grouting Requirements
Otherwise, standard anchor rod hole sizes are used.
After the anchor rods have been set, the setting plate is Grout serves as the connection between the steel base plate
removed and the anchor rods are checked as noted earlier. and the concrete foundation to transfer compression loads.
The bearing area is then cleaned, and the elevations are set Accordingly, it is important that the grout be properly de-
using either jam nuts or shims. Grout is spread over the area, signed and placed in a proper and timely manner.
and the setting plate tapped down to elevation. The elevation Grout should have a design compressive strength at least
should be rechecked after the plate is set to verify that it is twice the strength of the foundation concrete. This will be
correct. If necessary, the plate and grout can be removed and adequate to transfer the maximum steel bearing pressure to
the process started over. the foundation. The design thickness of the grout space will
One problem with using setting plates is that warping in depend on how fluid the grout is and how accurate the eleva-
either the setting plate or the base plate, or column move- tion of the top of concrete is placed. If the column is set on
ment during “bolt-up,” may result in gaps between the set- a finished floor, a 1-in. space may be adequate, while on the
ting plate and base plate. Generally, there will still be ade- top of a footing or pier, normally the space should be 12 in.
quate bearing and the amount of column settlement required to 2 in. Large base plates and plates with shear lugs may
to close the gap will not be detrimental to the structure. The require more space.
acceptability of any gaps can be determined using the provi- Grout holes are not required for most base plates. For
sions in AISC Specification Section M4.4. plates 24 in. or less in width, a form can be set up and the
Setting plates provide a positive check on anchor rod grout can be forced in from one side until it flows out the op-
settings prior to the start of erection and provide the most posite side. When plates become larger or when shear lugs
stable erection base for the column. The use of setting plates are used, it is recommended that one or two grout holes be
should be considered when the column is being erected in an provided. Grout holes are typically 2 to 3 in. in diameter and
excavation where water and soil may wash under the base are typically thermally cut in the base plate. A form should
plate and make cleaning and grouting difficult after the col- be provided around the edge, and some sort of filling device
umn is erected. should be used to provide enough head pressure to cause the
grout to flow out to all of the sides.
2.9.3 Shim Stack Method It is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommen-
dations for mixing and curing times. When placing grout
Column erection on steel shim stacks is a traditional method
in cold weather, make sure protection is provided per the
for setting base plate elevations that has the advantage that
manufacturer’s specification.
all compression is transferred from the base plate to the
Grouting is an interface between trades that provides a
foundation without involving the anchor rods. Steel shim
challenge for the specification writer. Typically, the grout is
packs, approximately 4 in. wide, are set at the four edges
furnished by the concrete or general contractor, but the tim-
of the base plate. The areas of the shim stacks are typically
ing is essential to the work of the steel erector. Because of
large enough to carry substantial dead load prior to grouting
this, specification writers sometimes place grouting in the
of the base plate.
steel section. This only confuses the issue because the erec-
tor then has to make arrangements with the concrete contrac-
2.9.4 Setting Large Base Plates
tor to do the grouting. Grouting should be the responsibility
Base plate size and weight may be such that the base plate of the concrete contractor, and there should be a requirement
must be preset to receive the column. When crane capaci- to grout column bases promptly when notified by the erector
ties or handling requirements make it advantageous to set that the column is in its final location.
the plate in advance of the column, the plates are furnished
with either wedge-type shims or leveling or adjusting screws

DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN / 9
2.11 Anchor Rod Repairs may end up at an angle to the vertical that will not allow the
base plate to be fit over the rods.
Anchor rods may require repair or modification during
Rods can also be damaged in the field by equipment, such
installation or later on in service. OSHA requires that any
as when backfilling foundations or performing snow remov-
modification of anchor rods during construction be reviewed
al. Anchor rod locations should be clearly flagged so that
and approved by the Engineer of Record. On a case-by-case
they are visible to equipment operators working in the area.
basis, the Engineer of Record must evaluate the relative mer-
The anchor rods shown in Figure 2.3 were damaged because
its of a proposed repair as opposed to rejecting the foundation
they were covered with snow and the crane operator could
and requiring the contractor to replace part of the foundation
not see them.
with new anchor rods per the original design.
ASTM F1554 permits both cold and hot bending of an-
Records should be kept of the repair procedure and the re-
chor rods to form hooks; however, bending in the threaded
sults. The Engineer of Record may require special inspection
area can be a problem. It is recommended that only Grade
or testing deemed necessary to verify the repair.
36 rods be bent in the field and the bend limited to 45° or
Most of these repairs are standard simple modifications
less. Rods up to about 1 in. in diameter can be cold bent.
that do not require calculations. The most common anchor
Rods over 1 in. can be heated up to 1,200 ºF to make bend-
rod problems are addressed in the following sections.
ing easier. It is recommended that bending be done using a
rod-bending device called a hickey. After bending, the rods
2.11.1 Anchor Rods in the Wrong Position
should be visually inspected for cracks. If there is concern
For anchor rods in the wrong position, the repair method about the tensile strength of the anchor rod, the rod can be
depends on the nature of the problem and when in the con- load tested.
struction process it is first noted. Is the repair required for
only one rod or for the entire pattern of rods? How far out 2.11.3 Anchor Rod Projection Too Long or Too Short
of position is the rod or pattern, and what are the required
Anchor rod projections that are too short or too long must
strengths of the rods?
be investigated to determine if the correct anchor rods were
If the error is discovered before the column base plate has
installed. If the anchor rod is too short, the anchor rod may
been fabricated, it might be possible to use a different pattern
be projecting below the foundation. If the rod projection is
or even a different base plate. If the rod positions interfere
too long, the embedment may not be adequate to develop the
with the column shaft, it may be necessary to modify the col-
required tensile strength.
umn shaft by cutting and reinforcing sections of the flange
Often, when the anchor rod is short, it may be possible
or web.
to partially engage the nut. A conservative estimate of the
If one or two rods in a pattern are misplaced after the col-
resulting nut strength can be made based on the percentage
umn has been fabricated and shipped, the most common re-
of threads engaged, as long as at least half of the threads in
pair is to slot the base plate and use a plate washer to span
the slot. If the entire pattern is off uniformly, it might be
possible to cut the base plate off and offset the base plate to
accommodate the out of tolerance. It is necessary to check
the base plate design for this eccentricity. When removing
the base plate, it may be required to turn the plate over to
have a clean surface on which to weld the column shaft.
If the anchor rod or rods are more than a couple of inches
out of position, the best solution may be to cut off the exist-
ing rods and install new drilled-in epoxy-type anchor rods.
When using such rods, carefully follow the manufacturer’s
recommendations and provide inspection as required in the
applicable building code. Locate the holes to avoid reinforc-
ing steel in the foundation. If any reinforcing steel is cut, a
check of the effect on foundation strength should be made.

2.11.2 Anchor Rods Bent or Not Vertical

Care should be taken when setting anchor rods to ensure
they are plumb. If the rods are not properly secured in the
template, or if there is reinforcing steel interference, the rods
Figure 2.3. Anchor rods run over by crane.

10 / DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN
 Table 2.4. Hex Coupling Nut Dimensions
Diameter Width Width Height
of Rod, in. Across Flats, in. Across Corners, in. of Nut, in.
w 18 1c 2�
d 1c 1� 2s
1 1� 1w 3
1� 1d 2x 3w
1� 2� 38 4�
1w 2w 3x 5�
2 38 3s 6
2� 3d 4� 7�
Dimensions based on IFI #128 of Industrial Fastener Institute. Material conforms to ASTM A563 Grade A.

the nut are engaged. Welding the nut to the anchor rod is not cal coupling nuts that can be used to detail the required hole
a prequalified welded joint and is not recommended. size and plate fillers. ASTM F1554 Grade 36 anchor rods
If the anchor rod is too short and the rods are used only for and ASTM F1554 Grade 55 with supplement S1 anchor rods
column erection, then the most expedient solution may be to can be extended by welding on a threaded rod. Butt weld-
cut or drill another hole in the base plate and install a drilled- ing two round rods together requires special detailing that
in epoxy-type anchor rod. When the rods are designed for uses a run out tab in order to make a proper groove weld.
tension, the repair may require extending the anchor rod by Figure 2.5a shows a recommended detail for butt welding.
using a coupling nut or welding on a piece of threaded rod. The run-out tab can be trimmed off after welding, if neces-
Figure 2.4 shows a detail of how a coupling nut can be used sary, and the rod can even be ground flush if required. For
to extend an anchor rod. This fix will require enlarging the more information on welding to anchor rods, see AISC
anchor rod hole to accommodate the coupling nut along with Design Guide 21, Welded Connections, A Primer for Engi-
using oversize shims to allow the plate washer and nut to neers (Miller, 2006).
clear the coupling nut. Table 2.4 lists the dimensions of typi-

Figure 2.4. Coupling nut detail for extending anchor rod. Figure 2.5a. Groove weld splice.

DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN / 11
 It is also possible to extend an anchor by using splice bars steel members and connections in the seismic load resisting
to connect a threaded rod extension. Details similar to that system (SLRS) for buildings and other structures where the
shown in Figure 2.5b will require enlarging the anchor rod seismic response modification coefficient, R, is taken greater
hole similar to what is required for the threaded coupler. Ei- than 3, regardless of the seismic design category.
ther of these welded details can be designed to develop a The base plate and anchor rod details for columns that are
full-strength splice of the anchor rod. part of the SLRS must have adequate strength to achieve the
When anchor rods are too long, it is easy to add plate required ductile behavior of the frame. Column base strength
washers to attain an adequate thread length to run the nut requirements for columns that are part of the SLRS are given
down to the base plate. As noted earlier, anchor rod details in Section 8.5 of the AISC Seismic Provisions. Seismic shear
should always include an extra 3 in. or more of thread be- forces are sometimes resisted by embedding the column base
yond what the detail dimension requires to compensate for and providing for shear transfer into the floor system. Rein-
some variation in anchor rod projection. forcing steel should be provided around the column to help
distribute this horizontal force into the concrete.
2.11.4 Anchor Rod Pattern Rotated 90° The available strength for the concrete elements of col-
umn base connection is given in ACI 318, Appendix D, ex-
Nonsymmetrical anchor rod patterns rotated 90º are very dif-
cept that the special requirements for “regions of moderate
ficult to repair. In special cases, it may be possible to remove
or high seismic risk or for structures assigned to intermedi-
the base plate and rotate it to accommodate the anchor rod
ate or high seismic performance or design categories” need
placement. In most cases, this will require cutting off the
not be applied. The AISC Seismic Provisions Commentary
anchor rods and installing drilled-in epoxy-type anchors.
explains that these “special requirements” are not necessary
because the required strengths in Sections 8.5a and 8.5b of
2.12 Details for Seismic Design D
the AISC Seismic Provisions are calculated at higher force
The 2005 AISC Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel levels. The AISC Seismic Provisions Commentary, Section 8.5,
Buildings (AISC, 2005) govern the design of structural is a recommended source for information on the design of
column bases in the SLRS.
Braced frame bases must be designed for the required
strength of the elements connected to the base. The column
base connection must be designed not only for the required
tension and compression strengths of the column, but also
for the required strength of the brace connection and base
fixity or bending resistance for moments that would occur
at the design story drift (inelastic drifts as predicted by the
building code). Alternatively, where permitted, the column
base may be designed for the amplified forces derived from
the load combinations of the applicable building code, in-
cluding the amplified seismic load.
Moment frame bases can be designed as rigid fully re-
strained (FR) moment connections, true “pinned bases”
or, more accurately, as “partially restrained (PR) moment
connections.” The intent of the discussion provided in the
AISC Seismic Provisions regarding this issue is to design
this connection consistent with the expected behavior of the
joint, accounting for the relative stiffness and strain capabil-
ity of all elements of the connection (the column, anchor
rods, base plate, grout, and concrete). Depending on the
connection type, the column base must either have adequate
strength to maintain the assumed degree of fixity or must be
able to provide the required shear strength while allowing
the expected rotation to occur. Moment base details shown
in Figures 2.6 and 2.7 are from the Commentary to the AISC
Seismic Provisions.
The base plate connection can be designed using concepts
Figure 2.5b. Lap plate splice. similar to beam-to-column connections. However, the Com-

12 / DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN
mentary to the AISC Seismic Provisions notes some signifi- 3.0 DESIGN OF COLUMN BASE PLATE
cant differences: CONNECTIONS
1. Long anchor rods embedded in concrete will strain much
more than high-strength bolts or welds in beam-to-column This section of the Design Guide provides the design re-
connections. quirements for typical column base plate connections in
buildings, such as the one shown in Figure 1.1.
2. Column base plates are bearing on grout and concrete,
Five different design load cases in column base plate con-
which is more compressible than the column flanges of
nections are discussed:
the beam-to-column connections.
• Section 3.1 Concentric Compressive Axial Loads
3. Column base connections have significantly more longi-
tudinal load in the plane of the flanges and less transverse • Section 3.2 Tensile Axial Loads
load when compared to beam-to-column connections.
• Section 3.3 Base Plates with Small Moments
4. The shear mechanism between the column base and the
grout or concrete is different from the shear mechanism • Section 3.4 Base Plates Large Moments
between the beam end plate and the column flange.
• Section 3.5 Design for Shear
5. AISC standard hole diameters for column base anchor In column base connections, the design for shear and the
rods are different than AISC standard holes for high- design for moment are often performed independently. This
strength bolts. assumes there is no significant interaction between them.
Several design examples are provided in the following sec-
6. Foundation rocking and rotation may be an issue, espe- tions for each loading case.
cially on isolated column footings. The general behavior and distribution of forces for a col-
As the Commentary to the AISC Seismic Provisions sug- umn base plate connection with anchor rods will be elastic
gests, research is lacking regarding the performance and de- until either a plastic hinge forms in the column, a plastic
sign of base details for high seismic loading. However, the mechanism forms in the base plate, the concrete in bearing
Commentary also acknowledges that these details are very crushes, the anchor rods yield in tension, or the concrete
important to the overall performance of the SLRS. There- pullout strength of the anchor rod group is reached. If the
fore, careful consideration must be given to the design of concrete pullout strength of the anchor rod group is larger
these details. than the lowest of the other aforementioned limit states, the
behavior generally will be ductile. However, it is not always
necessary or even possible to design a foundation that pre-
vents concrete failure.

Figure 2.6. Typical moment base detail. Figure 2.7. Embedded moment base detail.

DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN / 13
 For example, in statically loaded structures, if the strength Equation J8-2:
is much larger than the demand, the ductility is not necessary
 A 
and it is acceptable to design with the limit state of tensile or Pp = (0.85 f c′A1 ) 2  ≤ 1.7 f c′A1
shear strength of the anchor rod group governing the design.  A1 
However, frames designed for seismic lateral load resistance
are expected to behave in a ductile manner and, in this case,
These equations are multiplied by the resistance factor, φ, for
it may be necessary to design the foundation and the col-
LRFD or divided by the safety factor, Ω, for ASD. Section
umn-base-plate connection so that the concrete limit states
J8 stipulates the φ and Ω factors (in the absence of Code
of tensile or shear strength of the anchor rod group do not
Regulations) for bearing on concrete as follows:
govern the design. See ACI Appendix D, Section D3.3.4.
φ = 0.60 (LRFD) Ω = 2.50 (ASD)
OSHA Requirements
Alternatively, ACI 318-02 stipulates a φ factor of 0.65 for
The regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Ad- bearing on concrete. This apparent conflict exists due to an
ministration (OSHA) Safety Standards for Steel Erection oversight in the AISC Specification development process.
(OSHA, 2001) require a minimum of four anchor rods in The authors recommend the use of the ACI-specified φ fac-
column-base-plate connections. The requirements exclude tor in designing column base plates.
post-type columns that weigh less than 300 lb. Columns, The nominal bearing strength can be converted to a stress
base plates, and their foundations must have sufficient mo- format by dividing out the area term Pp equations such that,
ment strength to resist a minimum eccentric gravity load On the full area of a concrete support:
of 300 lb located 18 in. from the extreme outer face of the
fp(max) = 0.85 fc′
column in each direction.
The OSHA criteria can be met with even the smallest of When the concrete base is larger than the loaded area on
anchor rods on a 4-in. × 4-in. pattern. If one considers only all four sides:
the moments from the eccentric loads (since including the  A 
gravity loads results in no tensile force in the anchor rods), f p(max) = (0.85 f c′) 2  ≤ 1.7 f c′
and the resisting force couple is taken as the design force  A1 
of the two bolts times a 4-in. lever arm, the design moment
strength for w-in. anchor rods equals (2)(19.1 kips)(4 in.) = The conversion of the generic nominal pressure to an
306 kip-in. For a 14-in.-deep column, the OSHA required LRFD or ASD available bearing stress is
moment strength is only (1.6)(0.300)(18 + 7) = 12.0 kip-in. fpu(max) = φ fp(max) (LRFD)

3.1. Concentric Compressive Axial Loads f p(max)

f pa(max) = (ASD)
Ω
When a column base resists only compressive column axial
loads, the base plate must be large enough to resist the bear- The concrete bearing strength is a function of the concrete
ing forces transferred from the base plate (concrete bearing compressive strength, and the ratio of geometrically similar
limit), and the base plate must be of sufficient thickness concrete area to base plate area, as indicated in Section 10.17
(base plate yielding limit). of ACI 318 (ACI, 2002), as follows:

A2
3.1.1 Concrete Bearing Limit
(
f p(max) = φ 0.85 fc′ ) A1
The design bearing strength on concrete is defined in
ACI 318-02, Section 10.17, as φ(0.85fc′A1) when the sup-
A2
porting surface is not larger than the base plate. When the ≤2
supporting surface is wider on all sides than the loaded area, A1
the design bearing strength above is permitted to be multi-
where
plied by A2 A1 ≤ 2.
fp(max) = maximum concrete bearing stress, ksi
The 2005 AISC Specification, Section J8, provides the
nominal bearing strength, Pp, as follows: φ = strength reduction factor for bearing, 0.65 per
Section 9.3, ACI 318-02
Equation J8-1:
fc′ = specified compressive strength of concrete, ksi
Pp = 0.85fc′A1 on the full area of a concrete support.

14 / DESIGN GUIDE 1, 2ND EDITION / BASE PLATE AND ANCHOR ROD DESIGN