Design procedure for the steel net-section of tension splice joints in MPC wood trusses

A recommended design procedure is presented for determining the steel net-section capacity of a metal-plate-connected (MPC) tension splice joint subjected to combined tension and bending loading. Several common wood truss splice joint configurations were tested in combined tension and bending loading. All of the joints tested failed in the steel net-section of the truss plates. Three models were developed to predict the ultimate strength of the steel net-section of the splice joints tested. A design procedure for determining the allowable design capacity of the steel net-section of a splice joint subjected to combined tension and bending was developed based on the most accurate model. The recommended design procedure was compared with two alternative design methods for checking the safe capacity ofthe steel net-section oftension splice joints of MPC wood trusses subjected to combined tension and bending.