New method to evaluate the nailing performance of extruded high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites for residential applications

Extruded high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites offer a number of benefits over the materials currently used in residential construction, including improved strength, ductility and durability, increased design flexibility, improved safety in the event of natural hazards, and greater affordability. However, nailing extruded materials using conventional methods is difficult. To be used in residential applications, the nailability must be improved so that these composites can be nailed in the same manner as conventional materials. Current test methods assess nailing performance using a static nailing load rate. However, because cementitious materials are rate sensitive, such static methods are not representative of actual field nailing. Therefore, a dynamic nailing test was developed that simulates field nailing. Using this newly developed test, the nailability of extruded composites was evaluated and compared with commercially available materials that are known to be nailable. The results indicate that extruded composites should be suitable for use in residential applications, but that slight material modifications are still needed to improve the nailing performance.