Structural performance of rounded dovetail connections under different loading conditions

Abstract

Test results on the structural performance of rounded dovetail connections (RDCs) under different loading conditions are reported. The RDCs are a versatile connection concept that is mainly used to transfer shear, but its geometry enables it to also resist other loading conditions. The connection capacity and the design load of two different connection configurations (single and double dovetail) produced from kiln-dried western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) in shear, tension, and bending tests were evaluated using analysis of variance. The shear tests demonstrated that RDC show linear elastic behaviour until they reach a load that leads to crack development. Connections with a single dovetail configuration provided higher tension capacity, while not showing significantly different structural performance than the double dovetail configuration under other loading conditions. The work demonstrated that RDCs also have considerable tension and bending resistance.