Experimental, finite element and analytical characterization of hysteretic response of ductile connections with nailed angle brackets for mass timber structures

Abstract

Engineered wood products along with advanced processing and fabrication are pushing the limits of modern wood construction. Innovative concepts and applications facilitate the development of a new generation of structural systems. However, capacities of such systems are often governed by capabilities of the connections. This paper presents the experimental results with numerical and analytical models of angle brackets for prediction of load bearing capacity, stiffness, and ductility. Three types of metal brackets in beam-column connections have been investigated and their performance has been studied in various loading arrangements. Detailed finite-element models of each connection have been developed to gain insights into their behavior. An analytical approach is also adopted to represent the connections. Comparison with test data suggests that the models can reproduce results with good accuracy. The findings confirm feasibility of implementing ductile connections in practical mass timber structures.