Structural behavior of beam-to-column glued laminated timber connection using double steel plates

The structural performance of timber buildings is significantly affected by the behavior of connections. This study investigated the structural behavior of bolted glulam beam-to-column connections with external steel plates. Data were obtained for the structural behavior of two types of connections. The glulam was manufactured from Red Meranti (Shorea spp.). The load-carrying capacity, moment capacity, rotational stiffness, initial stiffness, post-elastic stiffness, and ductility ratio of the connections were evaluated and discussed. The results indicate that the type 1 connection was in the partial ductility capacity category (μ = 2.60), while the type 2 connection was in the limited ductility (μ = 1,27). The average moment capacities of type 1 and type 2 connections were 4.56 kN.m and 21.2 kN.m, respectively. The moment and rotation relationships models of the glulam beam-column were approximately bilinear with initial stiffness 9 times and 2.4 times for type 1 and type 2 connections, respectively, compared to corresponding post-elastic stiffness. Steel plates helped improve ductility ratio, as shown by splitting failures near the column bolt rows. This stiffness model can then be used as input data for spring properties of similar connections in the analysis of multi-story building structures.