Advanced design of metal plate connector joints

Metal plate connected wood trusses are indeterminate structures with semirigid joints. Engineering design of these components makes extensive use of sophisticated computer programs. Treatment of the plate connections within these systems is by far the least developed. A nonlinear finite element program that deals specifically with these connections was obtained from a Canadian source for use in this study. The program was modified and extended so that its output gives design information for the lumber members as well as the plate connectors. The resulting computer program could be an invaluable tool to investigate many problems confronting the truss industry. Design techniques for joints and whole structures can be improved through the higher precision gained with this nonlinear analytic capability.

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