doi:10.3850/978-981-08-7724-8_13-03

ABSTRACT

The current standards have a gap in the design of joints in timber structures, for temperatures between 20 and 300°C. In order to analyse this problem, experimental and analytical studies of the influences of temperature and moisture content on the strength of timber bolted joints were carried out. Mechanical tests at high temperatures in joints, with one and three bolts were performed. The timber embedment strength was also determined in order to study the validity of the failure theory used in the design of this type of joint. The experimental results were compared with those obtained using the simplified model of Johansen. The experimental study has revealed a reduction of the joint strength as the temperature increases. This can be explained by the plastic behaviour of the timber due to the glass transition of its polymers. The analytical study has also revealed that the load-bearing capacity obtained by the model proposed by Johansen, using the experimental embedment strength or that proposed in EN 1995-1-1, are higher than those obtained in the experimental tests on one-bolt joints.

Keywords: Fire, Resistance, Tests, Timber, Joints, Simulations.

© 2011 CPD Unit, University of Leeds