CD4

Desgn values for tmber connectors Timber connectors are used in conjunction with bolts to transfer shear load between two or more members placed side by side. The design values for timber connectors given by EC5 are unproven for the types of connector used in the UK, and a comparison of the design values given by EC5 and BS 5268-2:2002 indicates that in many cases the values given by EC5 are unsafe. It is recommended that until the EC5 rules have been reviewed, design values for connectors should continue to be based on information from BS 5268-2. This document gives a method for converting the basic connector loads given in BS 5268 to design values for use in a building which is otherwise designed to EC5. BS 5268-2 tabulates basic loads for one connector unit. A basic load has to be modified by various factors to obtain a BS 5268 permissible load value. A connector unit is defined as one of: a single-sided sided toothed plate and bolt, in a steel-to timber joint a double-sided toothed plate and bolt or two single-sided toothed plates back-to-back on a single bolt, in a timber to-timber joint a split ring and bolt, in a timber-to-timber joint a single-sided shear plate and bolt, in a steel-to-timber joint two single-sided shear plates plates back-to-back on a single bolt, in a timber-to-timber joint.

BS 5268-2 gives rules to allow for the effects on the basic load of service class, spacing, edge and end distances, angle of load to grain and the number of connectors in a line. These rules should be applied to the appropriate basic load tabulated in BS 5268-2 to obtain a basic design load, Rbasic,d, for one connector unit. Provided that the BS 5268 rules for minimum spacings and distances are complied with and the appropriate reductions for sub-standard dimensions are applied, it is unnecessary to consider the corresponding rules for spacings and distances given in EC5. The Eurocode 5 design load-carrying capacity for the connection is then calculated as: Rd = nkc Rbasic,d Where n = total number of connector units kc = factor from Table CD4.1 to take account of the differing load duration and safety factors used in the two codes Rbasic,d = BS 5268 basic load per connector unit modified for sub-standard spacing, end and edge distance, service class, angle of load to grain and number of connectors in a line, according to BS 5268-2 rules Table CD4.2 gives some indicative values of Rd for a threemember timber-to-timber connection made with two connector units on one bolt, to assist the designer in choosing a suitable connector.

Table CD4.1 Recommended kc factors to convert BS 5268-2 basc desgn loads for tmber connectors used n servce classes 1 and 2 to Eurocode desgn capactes EC5 load duraton Long-term Medum-term Short-term Instantaneous Connector type Toothed plates Shear plates and split rings Table CD4.2 (e.g. storage) 1.35 1.35 (e.g. floor mposed) 1.35 1.35 (e.g. snow) 1.51 1.69 (e.g. wnd) 1.69 2.03

Examples of short-term desgn capactes for a sngle 3-member C16 tmber connectona Desgn load capacty under short-term loadng n servce classes 1 and 2 Nomnal sze Connector type (kN) (mm) Load parallel to gran Load perpendcular to gran 4.65 7.10 9.06 10.5 18.7 34.7 20.2 28.2 38 50 63 75 6.80 10.3 12.2 13.6 26.7 49.8 28.9 40.2

Round toothed plate

Split ring

64 102

Shear plate

67 102

Note
a
The values shown are for a 3-member connection in C16 timber, with the central member 72mm thick and the two outer members each 44mm thick. The values are for the complete connection, i.e. for two shear planes or connector units, and are derived from BS 5268-2, factored in accordance with Table CD4.1.

CD 4 Page 1

IStructE/TRADA Manual for the design of timber building structures to Eurocode 5

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