There were 1,088 single-nail tension tests carried out on 109 spruce d
ouble-shear specimens in order to analyze the variation of load-slip b
ehavior of non-pre-drilled nailed connections. The following load-slip
parameters were determined from each test: maximum load. elastic slip
modulus, initial slip modulus, and slip modulus according to ISO 689
1, as well as the three parameters of a function fitted to the load-sl
ip relationship. Tests with nails penetrating a knot in the main or a
side member resulted in a 20 percent increase in maximum load and elas
tic slip modulus. The autocorrelation of the parameters of the load-sl
ip behavior as well as their mutual correlation are independent of nai
l distance in the range of 73 to 657 mm.