Loading Tests of Prestressed Tube Bolted Joint with Slotted-in Steel Plate

Abstract:

An innovative joint for timber structures, named prestressed tube bolted joint with slotted-in steel plate, has been designed, to improve the low slip modulus of bolted joints. Different from bolted joints, the innovative joints resist the slip of steel plate by the friction between steel plate and tubes which are inserted into timber holes and prestressed by a pretensioned bolt. Loading tests of single innovative joints and single bolted joints in tension were conduct , which indicates that single innovative joints outshine single bolted joints in load-bearing capacity and slip modulus. If the load is controlled, the ductility of joints is also desirable. Considering the great minimum end distance for dowel-type joint specified by Code for design of timber structures GB5005-2003, anther group of single innovative joints with end distance smaller than that required by the code were tested in tension parallel to timber grain, which indicates that innovative joints with smaller end distance are still great in load-bearing capacity and slip modulus, compared with the performance of single bolted joints; if load is controlled, the ductility of joint is also desirable.