Wooden framed structures with semi-rigid connections: Quantitative approach focused on design needs

Mechanical connections are recognized as extremely important elements in the aspect of strength and structural safety. However, classical structural model does not consider the connection stiffness properties, and are based on models with pinned or rigid joints only. In fact, mechanical connections are deformable and behave not linearly, affecting the whole structure and inducing nonlinear behavior as well. The quantification of this effect, however, depends on the description of the working of the connectors and the wood response under embedment. The theoretical modeling of wood structures with semi-rigid connections involves not only the structural analysis, but also the modeling of both single and grouped moment resisting connectors and the study of the wood properties under embedment. The proposal of this paper is to approach these aspects, and to quantitatively study the influence of the moment resistant connection in wooden framed structures. Comparisons between rigid and semi-rigid connections and between linear and nonlinear analysis lead to quantitative results.