Classification of timber–steel connections and the behaviour of semi rigid joints

Abstract

Semi rigid mounting joints of glued laminated timber elements are connections which are fully assembled on construction site and capable to take bending moments, axial and shear forces. The need of new type semi rigid timber elements’ connections is obvious. Possibilities of glued laminated timber elements’ manufacture are wide: straight element’s length may be till 40 m or curved axis elements with dimensions till 10 meters in height. So every day manufacturers, erectors and others face with transportation problems of non-standard oversized elements. Semi rigid mounting joints are used for this purpose. Non-standard oversized glued laminated timber elements are cut into standard transportation dimensions in factory and fully assembled into integral element on construction site using semi rigid mounting joints. In this article the main types of timber joints are discussed and the classification according to strength and stiffness is presented. The influence of joint’s rotational stiffness on effective length of element is discussed. Laboratory experiments of semi rigid timber joints which are carried out by author are discussed.