ABSTRACT
Broadly there are two types of wood connections: (1) the mechanical connections that attach members with some kind of fasteners and (2) the adhesive connections that bind members chemically together under controlled environmental conditions such as that seen in glued laminated timber (GLULAM). The mechanical connections, with the exception of moment splices, are not expected to transfer any moment from one element to another. The mechanical connections are classified according to the direction of load on the connector. Shear connections or lateral load connections have the load or the load component applied perpendicular to the length of the fastener. The withdrawal connections have the tensile load applied along (parallel to) the length of the fastener. When the load along the fastener length is in compression, a washer or a plate of sufficient size is provided so that the compressive strength of the wood perpendicular to the grain is not exceeded.
