Glued-in basalt FRP rods as moment connections in box section frames

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental programme that investigates the application of glued-in rods as moment connections in a post and beam connection. Nine such frame corners were constructed of box sections using a combination of sawn timber sections with orientated strand board and sawn sections with birch plywood. 12mm diameter basalt fibre reinforced polymer rods were used with a constant embedded length of 23·dr (280mm) and glueline thickness of 0.125·dr (2mm). Specimens with 2 no. and 3 no. rods were tested. Testing is ongoing at the time of writing this abstract therefore final conclusions cannot be drawn. However, early results show that the connection method is providing full moment transfer between the beam and post. In the OSB box sections failure was governed by the strength of the OSB beams, with the glued-in rods remaining fully intact.