Investigation on lateral load of joints made with various screws on commercial wood-plastic composite

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the screw diameter and pilot holes diameter as well as end distance, thickness of side and main members and screw type on the lateral load of joints made from various screws on commercial wood-plastic composites. Three types of screws, including sheet metal screws with gauges 8, 10, 14 (4, 5, 6 mm, nominally), wood screws with gauge 8 (4mm, nominally), and drywall screws with gauge 8 (4mm, nominally) were used. The results showed that lateral load of joints do not increase continuously with increase of screws diameter and this must be attributed to decrease of net section of joint members. However, with a given diameter of screw, lateral load of joint increased with the increase of end distance, thickness of joint members. Also, results showed that, with the increase of predrilled holes diameter up to root-diameter of screw, lateral load of joint decreased drastically. Concerning screw type effect, the lateral load of joint made using wood screw was higher than joints made with sheet metal and drywall screws.