Selecting the appropriate anchor channel involves balancing capacity, cost, material, and practical considerations. This guide helps you make informed choices.
Selection Criteria
When choosing an anchor channel, consider:
- Load capacity — Must exceed design demands
- Material compatibility — Match exposure conditions
- Geometric fit — Profile must suit member thickness
- Availability — Product accessible in your region
- Cost efficiency — Appropriate for application
Step 1: Determine Required Capacity
Review Your Design Loads
From your structural analysis:
- NEd — Design tension (kN)
- VEd — Design shear (kN)
Account for All Load Cases
Different load combinations may govern:
- Dead + live
- Dead + wind
- Seismic combinations
- Accidental cases
Enter all relevant load cases in Clariti. The tool identifies which case governs for each failure mode.
Step 2: Match Material to Environment
Exposure Classes
Don’t mix materials in a connection. Galvanic corrosion occurs when dissimilar metals contact in the presence of moisture.
Step 3: Check Geometric Compatibility
Member Thickness
The concrete member must be thick enough for:
- Full embedment depth (hef)
- Cover to reinforcement
- Fire protection requirements
Channel Profile Selection
Edge Distance Check
Compare your edge distances to critical values:
Channels with larger hef require larger edge distances for full capacity.
Step 4: Verify Selection
Check All Failure Modes
Don’t just look at overall utilization. Review each mode:
- Is one mode much higher than others?
- Are edge-related modes critical?
- Is steel or concrete governing?
Review Warnings
Clariti flags potential issues:
- Close edge distances
- Spacing interactions
- Member thickness concerns
- Material recommendations
Consider Constructability
- Can the channel be placed accurately?
- Is there reinforcement conflict?
- Can the T-bolt be accessed for tightening?
- Is the channel length practical?
Special Situations
High Tension, Low Shear
Focus on:
- Concrete cone capacity
- Embedment depth (larger hef helps)
- Supplementary reinforcement possibility
Consider deeper profile channels.
High Shear Toward Edge
Focus on:
- Concrete edge capacity
- Edge distance (increase if possible)
- Edge reinforcement
Consider moving channel away from edge or adding reinforcement.
Combined Loading
Focus on:
- Interaction equation
- Both tension and shear modes
- Multiple T-bolts to distribute load
Consider larger channels or multiple fixings.
Limited Member Depth
Focus on:
- Shallow profile channels
- Splitting capacity
- Blow-out potential
ATA40 (min. thickness 90 mm) is suitable for shallow members. 
