Glulam rivet connections under eccentric loading

Abstract

Results from theoretical and experimental studies on the strength of glulam rivet connections under eccentric loading are presented. Two failure modes are studied: (1) rivet yielding in bending with simultaneous bearing failure of the wood under the rivet's shank and (2) wood failure around the rivet cluster. The latter is studied using brittle fracture theory and a finite element analysis of the stress distribution in the wood around the rivets.Experimental results are shown to compare well with theoretical predictions for failure loads and type of failure, and design guidelines are proposed. Key words: fasteners, wood connectors, glued-laminated, nails, timber engineering.