Dynamic behavior of metal-plate-connected wood truss joints

The objective of this paper is to describe the behavior of metal-plate-connected (MPC) tensile and heel joints under seismic and cyclic loads. A proposed sequential phase displacement (SPD) loading standard was also used to determine dynamic characteristics (energy dissipation, damping ratio, and cyclic stiffness) of MPC joints. Strengths and stiffnesses of MPC joints after the seismic and SPD loadings were compared to those properties for a control group of joints tested to failure under a static ramp load. Strength degradation was not observed in tensile and heel joints as a result of the seismic loads. Stiffness degradation was observed in the heel joint as a result of the large artificial earthquake loads and in both tensile and heel joints as a result of the SPD loading. Dynamic properties from the SPD loading depended on the magnitude of displacement. The damping ratio and energy dissipation increased as the SPD loading progressed, whereas the cyclic stiffness decreased. Cyclic loading also showed a significant effect on the strength of MPC joints depending on amplitude of the cycles.