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Experimental fire analysis of steel‐to‐timber connections using dowels and nails
Author(s) -
Frangi Andrea,
Erchinger Carsten,
Fontana Mario
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
fire and materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-1018
pISSN - 0308-0501
DOI - 10.1002/fam.994
Subject(s) - fire resistance , structural engineering , cross laminated timber , fire performance , engineering , fire test , shear (geology) , forensic engineering , composite material , materials science
The paper describes and discusses the results of an extensive testing programme on the structural behaviour of timber connections under ISO‐fire. The results of reference tests performed at normal temperature are also presented. From the variety of timber connections multiple shear steel‐to‐timber connections with dowels and slotted‐in steel plates and connections with steel side plates and annular ringed shank nails were experimentally studied. Particular attention was given to the analysis of the efficiency of different strategies in order to increase the fire resistance of the timber connections. The test results showed that unprotected multiple shear steel‐to‐timber connections with dowels designed for normal temperature reached a fire resistance of about 30 min. A reduction of the load level applied during the fire did not lead to a significant increase of the fire resistance. By increasing the side timber members as well as the end distance of the dowels by 40 mm the connections reached a fire resistance of more than 70 min. Connections protected by timber boards or gypsum plasterboards showed a fire resistance of around 60 min. Thus, from a fire design point of view these strategies were favourable in order to increase the fire resistance of the connections significantly. Unprotected connections with steel side plates and annular ringed shank nails failed already after about 12 min due to large deformations of the nails and the steel side plates directly exposed to fire. By protecting the steel side plates using an intumescent paint the fire resistance of the connections was increased to around 30 min. The test results enlarged the experimental background of timber connections in fire significantly. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.