This paper presents a research study about timber connections in moment resisting frames, with materials commercially available in Costa Rica. With new developments in engineered timber, the Costa Rican Seismic Code included a chapter on timber structures, defining moment resisting timber frames with several values of structural global ductility, depending on the local ductility of the connections. A research study was then carried out, with the objective of determining the structural behaviour and static ductility factor of a beam to column connection. Twelve specimens were constructed and tested, varying the geometric characteristics, wood species and type of bolts. The specimens consisted of a glulam beam and column segment connected with a different bolt pattern. The beam segment was loaded at its free end to induce a moment in the connection, and the ends of the column segment were simply supported. The rotation of the connection was measured by placing two LVDTs in the beam and two LVDTs in the column. It was found that the ductility factors achieved by the test specimens ranged from 2.0 to 2.7 in average. The moment capacity of the connections can be safely estimated using the nominal values of bending yield strength of the bolts and the dowel bearing stresses. These results are an important input for the Costa Rican Seismic Code and for the development of engineered timber in Costa Rica.
