Fire tests of steel-to-timber connections with high fire resistance

This paper presents the results of twenty-one fire tests on unprotected steel-to-timber connections with dowel-type fasteners and one or two slotted-in steel plates. The experimental results of this type of connections available in existing studies have been mostly limited to a fire resistance duration of 60 min. The tests performed in this study target a significant increase of fire resistance to reach 90 and 120 min. Two configurations of connections with one and two slotted-in steel plates, i.e., two or four shear planes, were tested. The temperatures were measured at different locations in the wood members and along the steel plates. Two load levels for fire tests were determined on the basis of tests performed at ambient temperature. The experimental results show that the specimens proposed for steel-to-timber connections with dowel-type fasteners are suitable for achieving fire resistance of 90 and 120 min.