Hybrid connections for timber structures

The performance and efficiency of any structure depend on the connections that join their components; as such they constitute the most critical component. This is also true for timber structures, where joining of components is mostly achieved by means of mechanical interlocking, metal fasteners, adhesively bonding, or less common, a hybrid solution between two or more of these means. This paper gives an overview of hybrid jointing approaches: glued-in rods and plates, and a novel grouting technology with concrete-type adhesives, and hybrid carpentry type joints. The review of glued-in rods and plates illustrates that high stiffness and high ductility can be achieved using a combination of steel and adhesive. The grouted joints were investigated experimentally and numerically and the good agreement between them validated the design process and allows dimensioning. The carpentry type joints were combined with self-tapping screws, an adhesive layer between joist and beam, and a combination of both: the results demonstrated that all three types of creating a hybrid joint increased the joint stiffness. All these examples of best practise timber engineering show the potential that connections can be more efficient by improving established solutions through hybridization.