Innovative connection in wooden trusses

An innovation of the traditional timber truss is proposed, designed, built and tested. It is an original joining system to connect the top-chord and the tie-beam. The joint studied enables prolonging the rafter over the linkage with the tie, so as to form overhanging eaves. The behaviour of the connection under loads was analysed either by considerations relating to the possible limit states and by means of Finite Elements Analysis (FEA). In accordance with the design which was theoretically analysed, a prototype was made and it was subjected to loading tests that gave positive results.