Brittle Failure Modes in Nailed Steel Plate Connections

This paper deals with theoretical and experimental investigations of nailed steel plate connections. For the experimental part, a total of 43 laboratory tests on connections loaded in tension parallel to the grain are reported. The paper deals also with finite element analysis of the connection, presenting a study on the 3D stress distributions within the wood member and a study of the progressive wood fracture course by the use of a 3D nonlinear fracture mechanics model, more precisely a cohesive zone model. Results of the experimental tests are compared to results of the numerical analyses and to strength predictions according to Eurocode 5. The comparison between theoretical and experimental results indicate that the Eurocode 5 design approach for plug shear failure in nailed steel plate connections might be nonconservative in relation to predicted strength values. Also failure modes predicted by Eurocode 5 are often erroneous. Results of the numerical analyses indicate that load eccentricity has a major influence on the connection strength.