The lateral load resistance behavior of an unconstrained, two-member, single-bolt connection in outdoor furniture applications was investigated. The unconstrained connection consisted of a wood-plastic composite (WPC) main member fastened to a metal plate as a side member through a 6.35-mm-diameter bolt without a nut or washer used. Experimental results indicated that unconstrained WPC-to-metal single-bolt connections had a significantly higher lateral resistance load if the WPC main member is loaded in the direction perpendicular to the WPC material extrusion direction than the parallel direction. Tested connections failed with bolts having one plastic hinge bent, which occurred at the interface between the metal plate and WPC main member, accompanied by the WPC main members having a compressive yield fracture at their sides close to the metal plate, but no obvious compressive mark was observed at the opposite sides. Proposed linear and yield mechanical models were verified experimentally as a valid means for deriving estimation equations of lateral resistance loads of unconstrained WPC-to-metal single-bolt connections.
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