Experimental Analysis of the Performance of Doweled Connections Reinforced with Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) in Wood Pinus spp.

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Experimental analysis of the performance of doweled connections reinforced with Glass-Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) in wood Pinus spp.

 

Joints of wooden elements are critical points of every building structure. The strength of these connections depends largely on the fasteners used. The use of dowels made on the basis of glass-fiber reinforced polymer is an interesting proposal for the production of a new variant of connectors. In this context, the article should be considered interesting and valuable. Nevertheless, the authors should supplement the presented methodology with a more detailed description of the material tested, the tests carried out and the description of the results obtained, in particular:

·       The authors used a mixture with a volume fraction of 37% resin and 63% glass fiber for the production of the dowels. However, they should explain why they used such a composition of the mixture, why they did not propose, for example, several variants of the composition of the mixture.

·       There is no information on how the connection was prepared: e.g. whether the holes for the dowels in the wooden elements were loose, , whether the dowels were glued in or just pressed in.

·       There is no reference to the literature data of the results of tests carried out for dowels and wooden elements.

·       Formulas 1 and 2 presented in the "Results" section should be included in the "Materials and Methods" section.

·       In table 4, two references are cited: Branco, 2003 and Barcarolo, 2019, which were not included in the reference list.

·       The authors referring their results to the results of joint strength given in the literature should at least briefly indicate to what extent these joints are geometrically similar (size and dimensions of joined elements, number of fasteners, etc.).

Taking into account the above remarks, the article requires a revision.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

It is an interesting article, well written. More attention to the description of the prototype in the method chapter. Some additions are needed in the method chapter and in the conclusions according to the suggestions in the report.

Comments for author File: Comments.docx

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Experimental analysis of the performance of doweled connections reinforced with Glass-Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) in wood Pinus spp.

 

Joints of wooden elements are critical points of every building structure. The strength of these connections depends largely on the fasteners used. The use of dowels made on the basis of glass-fiber reinforced polymer is an interesting proposal for the production of a new variant of connectors. In this context, the article should be considered interesting and valuable.

With regard to the previous version of the article, the authors took into account most changes suggested by the reviewer. The article has been changed and supplemented. In my opinion, the article may be published in this version. 

Author Response

The authors would like to thank the reviewers and the editor for their valuable comments, observations and questions that will certainly contribute to improving the quality of the article.