Mechanical performance of glulam beam-to-column joints with geometrical modulus: Experimental investigation and analytical approach

Abstract

Due to the low embodied carbon and renewable features, wood is becoming increasingly popular in structural engineering. Connections have always been a critical design part, among which the beam-to-column joints with geometrical modulus could boost the prefabrication and the industrialization of timber structures. In this research, the shear and tension performance of the beam-to-column joints were tested. Two series of standardized joints were designed. Monotonic and cyclic loading tests were carried out to obtain the mechanical performance of the joints. Finite element models for the two types of joints were established to investigate the load resisting mechanism. The results were verified with the experiments and the simulation could serve as the reference for the calculation of the bearing capacity. The codified approaches were applied and compared for the yielding strength calculation. The accuracy was improved when the number reduction of the fasteners was not considered. Rope effect and the pull-out strength of the fasteners should also be considered. Theoretical methods based on LEFM are deduced for the ultimate strength calculation. A revised semi-empirical formula is proposed based on the existing approaches, with which the more accurate results of the ultimate bearing capacity could be obtained.