Abstract
Two types of mechanical connectors, of either steel or aluminum, were developed with the
application of self-tapping screws for Japanese cedar glulam member connections. The characteristic strength properties of a beam-column joint assembled using different numbers
of self-tapping screws in an H-type structure were studied using a shear test. For the π-type connector, connections that used 9 and 12 self-tapping screws showed a slight improvement
in the maximum shear loading capacity over the use of 6 screws. Connections assembled
using a dovetail-type connector exhibited greater initial stiffness and ductility than the π-type connector, but had a lower maximum load capacity and yield strength. Joints assembled using
the aluminum dovetail-type connectors dissipated energy 3 times more effectively than those assembled using steel dovetail-type connectors. The derived allowable shear capacity values
for a connection, obtained from the strength limit, were lower than values derived using yield
strength criteria and were about 28.5~32.5% of the average maximum shear load. The π-type connection showed a 42.4% higher allowable shear load capacity than that of dovetail-type connections.