Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Interface Mechanical Performance of Aluminum–Timber Composite Connections

Abstract

The interface mechanical performance between aluminum alloy and timber is the key to ensure that the two work together. In this study, 11 group connection performance tests were carried out to investigate the influence of connection type (shear bolt connection, epoxy resin adhesive connection, and mixed connection), number and spacing of bolts, thickness, and length (the area of incidence of the adhesive in the structure) of epoxy resin adhesive on the interface shear-resistant capacity of aluminum–timber composite connections. The shear performance of the three kinds of connections were studied via finite element analysis, and the calculation formula for interface shear-resistant capacity of the aluminum–timber composite connection was proposed based on the bond-slip mechanism of adhesive. The analysis results indicate that the mixed connection can avoid the brittle failure characteristics of the shear bolt connection and the epoxy resin adhesive connection, and the shear-resistant capacity is increased by 45.6% and 14.7%, respectively. The results of the calculation formula for interface shear-resistant capacity are in good agreement with the experimental results, indicating that it is suitable for the aluminum–timber composite connection.