In-plane load-bearing characteristics of bolted connections in structural glass become increasingly relevant in design of transparent architectural solutions. These connections are most commonly used when fixing laminated glass panels to the supporting structure. To avoid the localized stresses at the contact between glass and the bolt the void is commonly filled by an injected infill material. The in-plane compression load introduced at these point-fixed connections generates a complex stress state inside the infill but also the glass material around the hole which often turns represents one of the most critical aspect in the safety verification.
This paper focuses on the experimental study of the influence of the injection infill material on the strength of bolted connections in glass. The performance of a commonly used mortar infill is compared to alternative infill products. Results are reported in terms of load-displacement curves, stress distribution around holes and failure modes. A DIC measurement system in combination with strain gauges is used for tracking kinematics and deformations of the investigated specimens.
