Experimental and theoretical study on axial stiffness of CFRP-bolted timber joints with slotted-in corrugated steel plates

To visualize the effect of shaped sections on the axial slip of joints and provide some experience for targeting improving the ductility, a type of CFRP-bolted timber joints with slotted- in corrugated steel plates was proposed and uniaxial parallel tensile tests were carried out, considering the effects of wavelength, wave height, wave angle, timber thickness, number of CFRP layers, number of bolts, and number of bolt columns. The results show that the axial stiffness is negatively correlated with the wavelength, fluctuates with the wave height, and is positively correlated with the wave angle, timber thickness, number of CFRP layers, number of bolts, and number of columns. In addition, based on the elastic foundation beam and spring stiffness analysis model, the axial stiffness theoretical formula was established and verified with the experimental results, establishing a feasible method for the design and analysis of the stiffness for this type of joint.