Shear force and bending moment capacities of joints constructed with glued corner blocks

Abstract

Tests were carried out to determine the ultimate shear and bending moment capacities of glued corner blocks under controlled laboratory conditions. Yellow-poplar and sweetgum were utilized in constructing the joint specimens, but all corner blocks were cut from yellow-poplar. The glue faces of the four different size blocks used in the tests measured 25 by 25 mm, 25 by 38 mm, 25 by 51 mm, and 25 by 64 mm so that the edges of the glue faces on the blocks measured 25, 38, 5 1, or 64 mm. Specimens were assembled with liquid animal hide glue. Specimens were tested under static load by applying either shear or bending forces. Both the average shear force and the average bending moment capacities of joints formed with various size corner blocks could be predicted by relatively simple exponential expressions.