Double Shear Load Carrying Capacity of Kempas and GFRP Dowelled Connections

Abstract

Glass fibre reinforcement polymers (GFRP) application for reinforcement of wood, concrete and steel member is relatively becoming more variety in construction applications. Although it is possible to build large monolithic structures with composite materials, there are still several reasons for the structure to fail. One of the main reasons that contribute to this failure is the connection performance due to its function in carrying load across the structure. Thus having the right fundamental data for connection design purposes according to the specific and technological upgraded materials is very important. One of the basic methodologies in gaining the design data is through experimental double shear test which can be verified by European Yield Model (EYM) theory. Therefore, the objective of this research is to determine the load carrying capacity of double shear strength behaviour connections made of Kempas timber species as the main member and dowelled by the GFRP or the Kempas rod. The specimens were tested under the shear load with 2mm/min rate and tested until failure. From the experiment, it was found that the average ultimate shear strength of member dowelled with GFRP rod is 21.36% higher compared to one doweled with Kempas rod. According to mode of failure between two types of bolt, GFRP dowelled performs well (Mode I& IV) rather than Kempas dowelled (Mode IV).