This thesis presents the behaviour of FRP composite bolted connections with one steel bolt exposed to tension load. The experimental analysis of three different configuration of bolted connection with one bolt has been conducted with the tension test. The distance between the center of the hole and the loaded edge of the composite plate is the only changing parameter, where the rest are all constant. Additionally, we checked the current equations, which are in use by the company Fiberline to design one bolt FRP connections. The introduction of the thesis discusses the basic of the FRP materials with their composition, mechanical characteristics, production methods together with standards and guidelines for design of structural elements and connections made of FRP materials. This is followed by the detailed description of the specimen and the test setup itself. The distance between the loaded FRP plate edge and the center of the bolt hole with the diameter of d is for the first series of specimens 1.5*d, for the second is 3.5*d and for the last one is 7*d. Each series contained 4 specimens. During the experiment conduction the force and the relative displacement of the steel bolt have been recorded.
Due to the bearing stress of the bolt the specimens have experienced different failure mechanisms in relationship to the distance between the center of the bolt hole and the loaded edge of the composite plate. As expected, the worst behaviour of the tested connections has shown the connection with the shortest distance (1.5*d). This type of connections has no post fracture load bearing capacity after the first recorded damage and represents brittle failure. For the other two configurations of specimens with longer distance between center of the bolt hole and the loaded edge of the FRP plate we observed ductile behaviour and good post fracture behaviour. This shows that we must ensure the minimum adequate distance between center of the bolt hole and loaded FRP plate edge whenever we use this type of connections for structural purposes. We additionally confirmed the failure mechanisms in relationship to the distance between the center of the bolt hole and the loaded FRP plate edge which are stated in the internal design manual of the company Fiberline.
|