A methodology to determine the seismic low-cycle fatigue strength of timber connections

•The seismic low-cycle fatigue strength of timber connections is investigated.•A relationship between the impairment of strength and slip amplitude is defined.•The strength degradation is considered for the determination of ultimate slip.•A classification based on the seismic low-cycle fatigue strength is proposed. In this paper the seismic low-cyclic fatigue strength for different typologies of dissipative timber connections is analysed by means of a novel methodology, which defines an interaction between the strength degradation and the ductility capacity. The results of more than 40 cyclic tests on panel-to-timber, timber-to-timber, steel-to-timber connections and mechanical anchors are reported and discussed, by defining an approximated linear relationship between the slip amplitude and the impairment of strength from the 1st to 3rd cycle. A proposal for considering the strength degradation as an additional condition in the determination of ultimate slip of dissipative connections subjected to low-cyclic load testing is presented. The seismic low-cycle fatigue strength in terms of ductility capacity and strength degradation is compared for all the tested connection. Four different categories of connections in terms of low-cycle fatigue strength are proposed.