抄録
Mechanical properties of timber joints with metal plate connectors have been empirically estimated for determining the design load. The following variables were included in the test program: plate size, plate angle (angle between directions of force and the principal axis of the plate), grain angle (angle between directions of force and the grain of wood), specific gravity of timber and the effect of long term loading.
The results obtained are as follows;
(1) The strength of joints at plate angle 90° is the lowest when changing the plate angle, and the modifying factor to that of 0° is about 0.8.
(2) The strength of joints at grain angle 90° is the lowest when changing the grain angle, and the modifying factor to that of 0° is about 0.6.
(3) The strength of joints is proportional to the specific gravity of timber.
(4) The critical load ratio corresponding to the creep limit is about half of the static maximum load.
(5) Failure patterns of joints may be classified into five categories;
(a) Tension failure of the plate
(b) Withdrawal of teeth of the plate
(c) Cleavage along the timber grain
(d) Shear failure of the plate
(e) Break of a wood part into which the teeth have been driven.
