From a design perspective, it is essential that failure characteristics of connections in modern Engineered Wood Product (EWP) be recognized and understood as distinct from mechanisms for similar connections in traditional timber products like lumber and glued-laminated timber. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the range of failure mechanisms obtained for EWP connections using commonly adopted fasteners like bolts, nails and screws. Experimental programmes covered various connection geometries using EWP members such as Laminated Veneer Lumber, Parallel Strand Lumber and Laminated Strand Lumber. Side members varied from traditional wood, EWP and steel plates to high strength transparent plastic materials. Single and multiple fasteners under single or double shear arrangements were loaded both parallel and perpendicular to the strong axes of EWP members. In general, results indicated that brittle and ductile failure mechanisms are highly dependent on the connection geometries and EWP materials used, and not always similar to mechanisms for connections in sawn lumber.
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