Split Ring Connector Vs Shear Plate

Split rings get their name from a split tongue and slot in the middle of the ring that allows the ring to grow and contract with the timber around it.

Split ring connector vs shear plate. Placed in specially made grooves in overlapping members the rings develop maximum strength in the joints by distributing the stress over a greater area. They allow for greater load carrying capacity in shear than can be achieved by a bolt alone. Shear plate connectors are normally installed before the assembly of the structure. Both the 2 1 2 and 4 split ring work well when used for column corbels wind braces beam and girder seats and in addition numerous uses in exterior construction such as towers and bridges of all types.

Similar to split rings shear plates are installed in precut grooves but are flush to the surface when fully seated. Shear plates and split rings are used in bolted connections to engage a larger volume of wood and achieve much higher capacities than bolts alone. Split ring connectors are exclusively applied in timber to timber joints whilst shear plate connectors may be used for steel to timber as well. The 4 split ring the most widely used connector may be used efficiently for truss spans from 30 to 150.

Shear plates available in 3 sizes shear plates are round malleable iron discs that are designed to sit flush in precut grooves. Some connectors are available in other metals on special inquiry basis. The shear plates are placed in precut daps created by a dapping tool and are completely embedded in the timber when in position being flush with the surface of the timber. Two shear plates are the equivalent of one split ring with the load being transferred from one plate to the other in the joint through shear in the bolt or lag screw.

The galvanizing specification for the malleable iron shear plates and spike grids is astm a 153 for split rings the specification is astm a 123. Shear plates effectively increase the strength. In some cases where field connections of preassembled sections are to take place two shear plates used in place of a split ring will enable the members to slide easily into position greatly reducing the labor required for the connection. These joints are demountable.

Shear plates are installed flush into the surface of a timber and can be used with either a steel side plate or a wood side plate with a mating shear plate. Split ring timber connectors also known as timber rings or teco rings are round metal rings that are inserted into precut grooves between two overlapping timber members. All timber connectors are also available when specified with a hot dip galvanized coating.