Experimental studies on bolted glubam connections

This paper reports tensile and compressive test results of bolted glubam (glued laminated bamboo) connections. The tensile tests were carried out with two types of specimens designed for tensile loadings in the longitudinal and transverse directions in relevance to the orientations of the bidirectional bamboo strips (fibers). In each direction, the specimens were further divided into nine groups according to different combination conditions of end and edge spacings. Compressive tests were executed for three groups of bolted glubam connections, with varying thickness of the main board and bolting conditions. The tensile experiments show that the failure of the specimens is strongly influenced by the loading directions. Recommended end distance and side distance are provided, whereas the load carrying capacity is analyzed. Based on the compressive testing results, failure modes and load displacement relationships are analyzed, in which the yield bearing capacity is shown to be close to that given by the equations in existing design specifications for timber structure.