Finite Element Model Development Applied to Portuguese Granites for Contact Analysis of Two Dowel Fixing Conditions Used in Cladding

The present work sets out a finite element model for contact analysis of two different dowel fixing conditions for granite cladding. To be used in building facades as cladding materials and ornamental stones, Portuguese granites Cinzento de Alpalhão (SPI) and Amarelo de Vila Real (AVR) are considered with dowel-hole anchorage systems. FEM for contact analysis was developed (with ANSYS software) for two different dowel fixing conditions: one with regular plastic cap and the other with a fast curing mortar. Differences on strain fields between both granites with the different dowel fixing conditions were studied. Contact analysis for SPI and AVR materials show that the different dowel fixing conditions originate different strain fields. FEM results explain how different contact conditions influence the overall system stiffness (stone panel – fixing element – dowel) obtained in the dowel-hole anchorage strength tests for both granites.