Reliability of Steel Doweled Wood Connections Designed to ASCE 16-95

First-order reliability analyses were performed for wood connections, using bolts, nails, lag screws, and wood screws, including both wood and steel side plates, designed to ASCE 16-95. The reliability analyses were performed using the European yield model to determine the connection capacity. Using reasonable statistics for the random variables in the yield equations, a reliability index was determined for each of the possible failure modes for both single and double shear connections. Simple bounds were then determined for the reliability index of the series system consisting of multiple failure modes. These reliability analyses show that designs to ASCE 16-95 do not exhibit consistent reliability across the range of possible designs. One way to increase consistency is to use the full set of yield equations rather than the simplified set of design equations now present in ASCE 16-95 for most of the connectors. Other modifications may also be necessary since there are inconsistent reliability levels even for those connectors designed to the full set of equations.