Analytical modelling of cold-formed steel-to-timber connections with inclined screws.

• EN 1995 design expressions underestimate ultimate loads and overestimate slip moduli. • Analytical model validated against available push-out test results. • Analytical model can accurately describe the ultimate load and the slip moduli. • Analytical model can accurately predict failure modes. • Proposed model offers a significant improvement over current design provisions. An analytical model that can describe the load-slip response of cold-formed steel-to-timber connections, based on three components: timber embedment, screw bending and the axial pull-through, is presented. The model takes into consideration the screw inclination and the damage to the timber caused during the screw drilling process. The model was validated against available push-out test results, where it was shown that the model can accurately describe the ultimate load, the slip at ultimate load, and the two slip moduli, k s and k s,m , with mean model-to-test ratios of 1.01, 1.03, 1.09 and 0.96, respectively. The observed failure modes were also accurately predicted. Comparisons between the test data and the predictions of the EN 1995-1-1 design expressions showed that the Eurocode underestimated the ultimate loads by around 50% on average and overestimated the slip moduli by around 500% on average; the proposed model therefore offers a significant improvement over current design provisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]