Abstract
Metal Plate connected tresses use webs pre- cut to produce tight fitting joints. This study presents an analysis of joints having square ended web members Using square- end web members results in decreasing the manufacturing time, thus reducing costs. suckling of unsupported regions of the metal plates appears as a major disadvantage of using square- end webs.
A finite element analysis program was used in this study A shell element model was used to represent the metal plates. Spring elements were used to represent the effects of the chords and the webs on the metal plate nails. Suckling in the unsupported region of the plates resulting from using square end web was studied for different joint configurations. Buckling in the region between the web and the chord that can appear in both tight joints and square- end web joints was also investigated. The finite element model was experimentally verified for static loading.