Analysis of metal-plate-connected wood trusses with semi-rigid joints

This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers and can be found at: http://elibrary.asabe.org/toc_landing.asp?conf=t1.Metal-plate-connected wood trusses with semi-rigid joints were investigated by the matrix method of structural analysis. The element-stiffness matrix and fixed-end forces of an individual member with one or both ends semi-rigid were derived as modifications of the idealized cases. The case of unequal elastic connections at two ends of a member can also be handled by this method of analysis. When one end is semi-rigid, the other end may be specified as pinned, rigid, or semi-rigid. The truss was analyzed for three different joint assumptions: pin, rigid, and semi-rigid joints. The truss performance, based on deflection, varied greatly depending on the joint assumption. Including semi-rigid-joint behavior in the analysis of a wood truss decreased maximum deflection by 34% compared with the pinned-joint assumption and maximum moment by 13% compared with the rigid-joint assumption. By incorporating semi-rigid behavior of joints, more accurate member forces can be obtained enabling closer prediction of actual truss behavior