Different Types of Wood Connectors

Traditional structural wood connectors fall into two main categories, the pin type, and the metal connectors. They differ in the way they transfer forces between the members they connect. Metal fasteners are virtually non-fire resistant and can transfer and absorb heat very quickly. A common solution is to use gypsum board fireproofing. The only weakness of metal fasteners is related to the wood itself. Metal fasteners are further divided into two sub-categories, the i) connectors with bolts and the ii) sheet metal fasteners.

i) Connectors with bolts

There are three popular types of bolted connectors, they are open ring connectors, tooth plate connectors, and shear plate connectors. Next, the wood connectors supplier will give you a detailed introduction to toothed plate connectors.

Toothed plate connectors

Toothed plate lumber connectors are secured with strong bolts. They are made from hot-dipped galvanized mild steel or cold-rolled uncoated narrow mild steel strips. They are typically available in a variety of sizes and shapes; they range from 38 mm to 165 mm in diameter. Larger connectors can be used for glued laminated members. Tooth plate connectors are mostly round in shape, but oval and square shapes are also readily available.

Tooth Plate Connector

To install them properly into the wood, the bolts of the tooth plate connectors are tightened tightly to ensure proper grip. Both are fitted with square or round washers half the size of the connector diameter. The connectors are not considered too stable for denser woods because of the difficulty of pressing the teeth into them. It is not common to use toothed plate connectors with wood-based or plank products with densities exceeding 500 kg/m.

Double-sided toothed plate connectors are used for transversely loaded wood-to-timber connections. Single-sided toothed connectors can be used for removable wood joints and transversely loaded steel-to-timber connections. The strength of the connection depends on the wood and the size of the connection as well as the load-bearing capacity of the bolts. The stiffness of the connection depends on the wood density and the connector diameter. For small diameter connectors, mild steel bolts of up to 65 mm will do the job well.

It may be necessary to use large washers to press the connector teeth into the wood. This is because the high vertical stress on the grain can crush the wood. Tooth plate connectors with high-strength bolts can be permanently replaced with mild steel bolts using timber frame washers. In a double-sided toothed plate connection, the load is transferred from wood to wood by embedding the stress in the teeth of the connector, through the toothed plate, and the teeth on the other side.

In the design of the toothed plate connector, joint slippage is almost negligible. This is not the case in a one-sided joint, where the load is transferred to the tooth plate and the steel member or second tooth plate by shear in the bolt. The diameter of the hole in the tooth plate connector corresponds to the diameter of the coarse body, except for the small tolerance that causes the initial sliding.