Abstract:
The Eurocode 5 (1995) timber connection design formulae are discussed briefly
and applied to the usual standard bolted or nailed South African round timber
pole connections to obtain theoretical strengths. These theoretical strengths are
compared with test results for loading parallel and perpendicular to the grain. It is
also shown that care must be taken in specifying end distances and how the
SABS 0163-1:1994 formulae for groups of connectors loaded perpendicular to the
grain can be applied to single bolted connections where end distances are less
than specified. Furthermore, it is proposed that the Eurocode 5 formulae be accepted
for inclusion in the South African design code, but with adjustments to the
embedment stress formulae.
