Application of bolted connections in fibre-reinforced polymers

The use of lightweight and corrosion-resistant construction materials such as pultruded glass-fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) profiles in bridges has been increasing in recent years. Even though the use of detachable connections with mechanical fasteners is the most reliable and controlled technique for joining GFRP structures, there is a lack of information on the load-bearing capacity of connections in which the bolts are subjected to tension loads. The results from a series of tests aimed at investigating the load-bearing behaviour of different GFRP connection types where bending or pull-out failure may occur are summarised in this paper. The tests were conducted using standard stainless steel bolts and nuts. Load resistance models are proposed based on the experimental investigations. Furthermore, a partial safety factor is determined using the statistical methods given in EN 1990. Finally, an application of mechanically fastened connections is shown for a GFRP pedestrian bridge erected near Schwerin, Germany.