Experimental and analytical investigation on dowel-pinned connections with varying pin diameters for granite cladding

Abstract

Granite cladding with dowel-pinned connections has been widely used in building envelope systems; however, their loading behavior is not fully understood, particularly the correlations between the diameters of dowel holes and steel pins, and the breaking loads. To solve this issue, a series of loading tests on dowel-pinned connections with varying pin diameters were carried out. The failure sequence of the granite and steel pin was determined based on their respective load-bearing capacities, which finally represented the breaking load. Failure of the connection with 6-mm pin showed simultaneous failure of the granite and pin, that is, pin yielding and granite rupture appeared at the same time. However, the connections with other pin diameters failed in different sequences. The skeleton curves for the various connections were developed to represent their conceptual loading behavior. The experimental breaking load has been observed to generally rise with an increasing diameter of the pin. The experimental findings were used to assess the various computational approaches available for the breaking load. The load distribution and redistribution profiles were also assessed on the basis of the test findings. Finally, finite element models were developed to study the loading behavior of the connections and the failure modes. The numerical and experimental results were found to generally agree with each other. The results of this study will help improve the structural safety of various dowel-pinned stone claddings.