Experiment on Behavior of a New Connector Used in Bamboo (Timber) Frame Structure under Cyclic Loading

Abstract

Connection is an important part of the bamboo and timber structure, and it directly influences the overall structural performance and safety. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the mechanical performance of several wood connections, a new connector for the bamboo (timber) frame joint was proposed in this paper. Three full-scale T-type joint specimens were designed to study the mechanical performance under cyclic loading. The thickness of the hollow steel column was different among three specimens. The specimens were loaded under displacement control with a rate of 10 mm per minute until the specimens reach failure. It was observed that the failures of three specimens were caused by the buckling of flanges in the compression and that the steel of connections does not yield. The load-displacement hysteretic curve for three specimens is relatively plump, and the stiffness of connection degenerates with the increasing of cyclic load. The maximum rotation is 0.049 rad, and the energy dissipation coefficient is 1.77. The thickness of the hollow steel column of the connector has significant impact on the energy dissipation capacity and the strength of the connection. A simplified moment-rotation hysteresis model for the joint was proposed.

Aesthetic Preference of Timber Joints in Architectural Products

“…The results revealed that employment status was the only sociodemographic factor that had a significant effect on the aesthetic preference of the respondents. This finding is consistent with some previous studies that have found employment status to be a predictor of aesthetic preference [61,62]. This finding is interesting, as it suggests that employment status may be related to other factors, such as income, lifestyle, values, or exposure to design, that may affect the aesthetic judgment and preference of consumers [10,53].…”

“…As highlighted by Yang et al [59], timber joints provide strength and stability to the overall building, evolving over time under the influence of regional traditions, material, and technological advancements, and the need for efficient construction methods [60]. Traditional timber joints, such as mortise and tenon joints, have a rich history in Asian countries, preserving the original beauty and aesthetics of timber without relying on steel fasteners [61]. However, advancements in fasteners and joint design have revolutionised timber construction, enabling the efficient construction of largescale structures with enhanced durability and performance [62].…”

Review of connections for engineered bamboo structures

“…The results showed that the average tensile strength of bolt connection was 1354.3 N and the average compressive strength was 652.9 N, which indicated that the corner was more easily damaged under pressure than under tension. Zhou et al [61] proposed an energy dissipation joint of bamboo/timber structure (Fig. 9).…”

Glue-laminated bamboo for dowel-type moment-resisting connections

“…Further studies showed that common failures in the GLB dowel connections occurred mainly due to shear parallel to the grain and tensile perpendicular to the gain in the connection area (Lathuillière et al 2015;Reynolds et al 2016). To test the effective use of GLB in construction, limited efforts have been placed to investigate the dowel type GLB connections subjected to bending moment (Zhou et al 2018;Leng et al 2020), and the brittle failure parallel to the grain from the connection was observed.…”