Strength of Shear Nailed Connections in Thin Steel Sheets
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 5
Abstract
This paper investigated the potential applicability of the specification equation for the shear pull-out strength of a power-actuated fastener (PAF) connection to nail connections between steel sheets thinner than 2.9 mm. The tested G300, G450, and G550 specimens had thicknesses ranging from 0.6 to 2.4 mm, connected with 2.5- or 3.6-mm helically knurled nails. The pull-out strength is a function not only of the thickness of the member not in contact with the fastener head, but also of the other member’s thickness. The member thicknesses have greater influence than the nail diameter on the pull-out strength, contrary to the design equation. Based on the test results of 93 shear nailed connections failing in pull-out, the paper proposes a design equation that is applicable to connections using helically knurled nails of steel sheets thinner than 2.9 mm. A group effect factor of 0.75 is suggested for serial nail connections based on the test results of 19 multiple nail connections. A resistance factor of 0.55 is recommended for use with the proposed equation for determining the pull-out strength of shear nailed connections in thin steel sheets. An additional finding is that the current design equation for the bearing and tilting strength of a PAF connection is applicable to connections in which the member not in contact with the fastener head is much thinner than the specification minimum of 3.2 mm, and in which the fastener diameter is smaller than the specification minimum of 3.7 mm.
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Data Availability Statement
The laboratory test data used in the present study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Australian Research Council for funding this research through the ARC Research Hub for Australian Steel Manufacturing under the Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme (Project ID: IH130100017). The authors also thank Jason Ogilvy of Structnail and Elia Hajjar of Hitek Steel Framing for supplying nails and nailing equipment. The steel materials used in the laboratory tests were supplied by Trevor Clayton of BlueScope Steel, who suggested this research project. All specimens were fabricated by Ritchie McLean. The authors also thank the Sustainable Building Research Centre at the Innovation Campus of the University of Wollongong for the use of its facilities.
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 147 • Issue 5 • May 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 30, 2020
Accepted: Dec 29, 2020
Published online: Feb 19, 2021
Published in print: May 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jul 19, 2021
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