Metal-plate Connected Tension Joints Under Different Loading Conditions

Metal-plate connected tension-splice wood truss joints were tested under six different loading conditions: pure axial tension, pure bending, and four different levels of combined (axial tension/bending) loading. All joints were fabricated from 2- by 4-in. nominal No. 2 southern yellow pine lumber and 20-gage metal truss plates. Joints were tested to failure on a newly developed testing apparatus. Combined loading tests showed that the axial load capacity of joints decreased with an increase in applied bending moment. The most common mode of failure was tooth withdrawal, which indicates that tooth-holding capacity governs the strength of the joint