Cyclic response of moment-resisting glulam hybrid joints with bolts and side steel plates

To improve the cyclic properties of moment-resisting bolted glulam joints, H-shaped steel flange plates with openings and side steel plates with reduced section are applied and connected with glulam members by self-tapping screws. Full-scale cyclic loading tests were conducted on the glulam hybrid joints and the experimental results indicated that with the contribution of supplemental steel components, significant improvement was achieved in the moment resisting capacity, elastic stiffness, and energy dissipation. The moment capacity and elastic stiffness of bolted glulam joints are increased by up to 91% and 67%, respectively. Furthermore, a three dimensional numerical model was established and validated by comparison with experimental results. Comprehensive numerical analysis was conducted on the cyclic response of bolted glulam joints with brittle failure modes, and it was indicated that with the application of supplemental steel components, high ductility behavior was observed from the hybrid joints with the constraint on wood splitting and crack opening. The moment capacity and elastic stiffness can be enhanced by up to 152% and 156%, respectively. The accumulated energy dissipation is up to 15.4 times that of bolted glulam joint, which demonstrates the application potential of the glulam hybrid joints.