Further work

A grouted connection used in the wind industry has been analysis as a case study. To do so, a static structural analysis has been carried out using Finite Element method. This is a simple way of getting preliminary results and conclusions, but further work must be done to obtain accurate results and therefore predict the behaviour of the grout joints under real loading conditions and design the joint according to this. Further work points are listed next:

  Include the shear keys in the geometry of the model.

  Refinement of the mesh of the model, especially in the surroundings of the shear keys.

  Study the behaviour of the shear keys and check possible shear mode failure of them.

  Dynamic analysis of the model rather a static one. Inclusion of dynamic loads to study the effect of them in the grouted connection and possible failure of the grout and the shear keys due to fatigue.



  Parametric study for the dimensions of the grout joint and the shear keys.


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