An Analytical Study on the Pull-Out Strength of Anchor Bolts Embedded in Concrete Members by SPH Method

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments

This paper studied pull-out strength of anchor bolts embedded in concrete members. The outcome of the paper is interesting however, there are several aspects that need to be improved. The reviewer can only recommend for publication if the author satisfactorily address the following major comments in the revised version.

1. This paper used 38 figures in total which is too many for a standard research paper. Suggest to combine some of these figures to reduce the number of total figures.
2. The research questions and justification of selected parameters should be highlighted.
3. The novelty of the study should be highlighted more clearly at the end of introduction section. How this study is different from the published study in literature?
4. How the outcome of this study will benefit researchers and end users? This need to be highlighted in introduction or end of conclusion.
5. The importance of pull-out strength in different applications and the recent investigation should be discussed in introduction section to improve the background study. Recently, pull-out behaviour was investigated for railway sleepers [Ref: Failure analysis and the effect of material properties on the screw pull-out behaviour of polymer composite sleeper materials] and also important for bolted modular wall construction [Ref: Axial compression behaviour of all-composite modular wall system]. Suggest to include them in introduction section with proper citations to improve the background study.

I would be happy to see the revised version to understand how these comments are being addressed.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The article entitled: “An analytical study on the pull-out strength of anchor bolts embedded in concrete members by SPH method” is in line with the Applied Sciences journal. The provided research covers important topic connected with concrete anchor bolts. The presented research based on computer modelling, but they have potential to further practical applications. The article is well organized, but requires some improvements:

- Abstract: Please add short description for used methodology / research methods.

- Abstract: Please stress the achieved results.

- Introduction – Table 1. (line 20) – the table should be located in the text next to reference. Presented information has a character rather figure than table.

- Analysis…–  line 74, reference to Fig. 3  - mentioned figure should be close in the text.

- Analysis…–  Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig 6. – lack of proper references in the text.

- Analysis…–  Table 2, include the same data as table 3 – please verify.

- Analysis…–  Fig. 13 and 26, please add the information about dimension of anchor bolds, including the depth of anchoring.

- Fig. 38 and 39. – figures should be in previous part; not in conclusion part.

- Results – could you add shortly comment potential practical outcomes, including recommendations for designers?

- Results – more detailed comparison with the literature is required as a discussion.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

I have no further comments

Reviewer 2 Report

I do not have any additional comments.