MOMENT CAPACITY AND STIFFNESS OF WEB-TO-CHORD PLATED TRUSS JOINTS

摘要

Tests of a truss sensitive to web-to-chord rotational stiffness show that variability in stiffness of that joint can be large, resulting in significant differences in performance. To better identify properties of typical web joints, joints of two wood members fastened together with metal connector plates in a T-shape were tested under a moment loading. Tests were done with various lumber sizes and species, plate sizes and orientations, and with and without the presence of a gap between the wood members to identify the effect of these parameters on strength and stiffness. Measured strength and stiffnesses are reported. Comparisons are made with expected strength based on equations available from design standards and expected stiffness based on equations using axial stiffnesses. Rotational stiffness variation was large, with some joints showing much lower stiffness than may be predicted based on prior research.