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Experimental Investigation of Self-Tapping Fasteners for Attachment of Corrugated Cladding Panels to Pultruded Fiber-Reinforced Plastics Beams in Industrial Building Construction

by Ethan A. Love, Composite Technology, Fort Worth, United States,
Tanongsak Bisarnsin, Composite Technology, Fort Worth, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Materials: Performance and Prevention of Deficiencies and Failures

Abstract:

This paper describes an experimental investigation of self-tapping fasteners for the attachment of corrugated fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) cladding panels to pultruded FRP beams. Although self-tapping fasteners have been used in the past, their durability and performance under cyclic loads have not been documented. Due to a concern that the holding power of self-tapping fasteners would be reduced under the accumulated action of dynamic wind loads under life cycle use, small bolts have been typically used. However, the use of bolts increases installation costs dramatically due to the need to have workmen on each side of the panel during installation. The experimental investigation consisted of a series of static pullout tests, a series of cyclic loading tests, and a combination of the two to determine the amount of retained pullout capacity after cyclic loading. The static pullout tests were performed to determine the average pullout capacity. The cyclic loading tests were performed to determine the durability of the connection under cyclic loading at varying load levels. Two series of these tests were performed, one with peak loads at about two-tenths, and another at about six tenths of the pullout load. The lower load level was chosen to represent an average wind load condition, and the higher load level was chosen to represent a wind load condition at the design load. The tests to determine the amount of retained pullout capacity were performed after cyclic load tests at both load levels. The results of the pullout tests showed that this type of fastener produces static pullout capacities of the magnitude required for this application. The cyclic loading tests showed that this type of fastener could survive cyclic loading without failure for over 10,000 cycles at the higher load level and as high as 250,000 cycles at the lower load level. The tests for pullout capacity retention indicate that an acceptable amount of the pullout capacity is retained at either load level. These results indicate that self-tapping screws would be applicable for use in fastening corrugated cladding panels to pultruded FRP beams.

Subject Headings: Load tests | Cyclic loads | Wind loads | Pullout behavior | Fastening | Load bearing capacity | Fiber reinforced polymer

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