Seismic performance of connections in heavy timber construction

Abstract

Results from monotonic and quasi-static cyclic tests on connections used in heavy timber construction are presented for two types of fasteners: steel bolts and glulam rivets. Bolted connections with three different diameter bolts, arranged in several configurations, as well as two different configurations of glulam rivet connections were tested. All configurations included a main glulam member and two steel side plates. For bolted connections, the seismic behaviour was found to be primarily dependent on the bolt slenderness ratio. Bolted connections with higher slenderness ratios (smaller diameter bolts) exhibited more ductile behaviour with considerable steel yielding and wood crushing before failure. Glulam riveted connections, which were designed in rivet failure mode, showed superior seismic performance when compared to bolted connections for similar design load levels. Riveted connections were also able to dissipate the highest amount of input energy before the failure was reached.Key words: timber connections, glulam rivets, bolts, ductility, timber, wood, braced frames, seismic performance, heavy timber construction.