Strength and efficiency of braced timber columns
Keyword(s):
A rational procedure for determining the strength of braced timber columns is presented. The theoretical development takes into account the effects of interlayer slip, a phenomenon characteristic of systems with nonrigid connections. Forty-five braced wood columns were fabricated and tested. Very good agreement was observed between experimental results and theoretical predictions. As a measure of efficiency, the braced column results are compared with equivalent layered and equivalent solid systems. Key words: buckling, columns, nails, braced columns, structural engineering, nonrigid connections, timber construction, wood columns, layered, solid.