Experimental evaluation of shear behavior of pultruded GFRP perforated connectors embedded in concrete

This paper presents experimental and analytical studies on the shear behavior of GFRP perforated connectors (GPC) embedded in concrete. A series of 26 pultruded GPC specimens were fabricated and tested under pull-out load. The experimental variables included the effects of plate thickness, plate hole's radius and penetrating rebars. Concrete dowel failure and GFRP shear-out failure were the two main failure patterns of GPC specimens. GFRP failure occurred in specimens with a thin plate, and ultimate strength is mainly affected by the hole's radius. The specimens with concrete dowel failure presented more ductile than the specimens with GFRP shearout failure. The shear stiffness of GPC was determined based on load-slip curves. Finally, the ultimate strength equations of GPC incorporating the stress concentration in the GFRP plate and the restraint effect of penetrating rebar were proposed based on the test results. Good agreement between experimental and theoretical results was achieved. A critical thickness of GPC plate was proposed to guarantee sufficient strength and ductility.