Effect of end distance on the resistance of spilt ring and shear plate connectors loaded perpendicular to grain

Abstract

An experimental study was undertaken to verify the end distance requirements in the CSA Standard O86.1-94 "Engineering design in wood (limit states design)" for split ring and shear plate connectors in joints loaded perpendicular to grain. In a laboratory study, 48 joints of the Douglas fir – larch species group were loaded to failure perpendicular to grain. Twenty-eight of those joints were tested using 102 mm diameter shear plates, and the remaining 20 joints were tested using 63 mm diameter split rings. Of the 28 joints tested with 102 mm shear plates, 16 of the specimens were made of laminated Douglas fir and the other 12 specimens were made of sawn lumber Douglas fir. End distances of 80, 130, 140, and 180 mm were studied for each of the two shear plate tests. Specimens using 63 mm split rings were tested at end distances of 80 and 140 mm. Results show that when using 102 mm shear plate and 63 mm split ring connectors, the end distance of the connector has no statistically significant effect on the resistance of the connector. Changes to the Canadian wood design standard are recommended. Key words: wood, fasteners, resistance, split ring, shear plate, end distance.