Timber moment connections using glued-in basalt FRP rods

Glued-in rods offer an alternative method for creating structural timber connections however despite decades of research they have had limited implementation. The behaviour of glued-in rod connections in a framed structure was investigated. Nine partial frames were constructed of box sections connected with 12 mm diameter BFRP rods. A theoretical design approach was developed based on the optimum observed behaviour, where failure was located in the connection. For specimens with two embedded rods the theory predicted strength within 16% error of the experimental results. For specimens with two rods but gave an over-prediction of strength where three rods were used.