Rotational performance of glulam bolted joints: Experimental investigation and analytical approach

Abstract

Abstract Glulam bolted joints with slotted-in steel plates are commonly seen type of joints for post and beam timber structures. This paper provides a systematic study on the rotational performance of glulam bolted joints. Two configurations of glulam bolted joints were experimentally tested, and multiple sets of the specimens were manufactured and tested to study the dispersion of the joint performance. The mechanical properties of the joints, such as the elastic and plastic stiffness, the yield and ultimate moment resisting capacity, were investigated. Meanwhile, the observed failure modes were reported. Calibrated with the test data, finite element models were created for such type of joints with the modeling details explained. Then, the code defined embedment and shear capacities of such type of joints were calculated and compared. Moreover, the study provides an estimation for the coupled shear and rotational strength, the rotational stiffness, and the moment-rotation envelope curve of the joint. The estimation methodology provides not only the design values, but also the expected average values that could be directly compared with the test data or the simulation results. The proposed analytical approaches in the paper could be applied to systematically and accurately assess the rotational performance of glulam bolted joints.