Energy-Absorbing Connection for Heavy-Timber Assemblies Subjected to Blast Loads–Concept Development and Application

Abstract

This paper presents the procedure for the development of energy-absorbing connections (EACs) in glued-laminated timber (glulam) and cross-laminated timber (CLT) assemblies to resist the effects of blast explosions. A probabilistic approach, which ensures that energy dissipation occurs in the ductile connections prior to brittle flexure failure of the wood element, is presented and discussed. The design and detailing of the EACs was also based on the results from a preliminary numerical investigation. A total of 23 dynamic tests were conducted on full-scale glulam and CLT elements with EACs as boundary connections using a shock tube test apparatus. The behaviors of the assemblies were established and failure modes were characterized based on the observations of damage occurring in the connections and wood member. The results from experimental testing demonstrated that when properly designed, the EACs allow the assemblies to withstand a greater amount of blast energy than typical glulam and CLT connections as well as idealized simply supported end conditions. A two-degree-of-freedom (TDOF) analysis was conducted to model the assemblies through the discretization of the timber and connection components, and the results showed that TDOF modeling is capable of predicting the behavior of the full-scale assemblies with good accuracy.