Oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing-to-wood framing connections, as typically used in light-frame shear walls, were experimentally examined in a novel biaxial test setup with respect to possible path dependence of the load-displacement relation. The connection with an annular-ringed shank nail was loaded under displacement control following nine different displacement paths within the sheathing plane, which coincided at a number of points. At intersection points, the resultant connection force, its orientation, and work performed on the connection system to reach the specific point were calculated and compared. Evaluation of experiments revealed significant path dependence with respect to the orientation of force resultants at path intersection points. However, the magnitude of the forces and the work carried out showed relatively small dependence of the displacement path undertaken. Comparison of uniaxial connection tests with the European yield model demonstrated a strong contribution of withdrawal resistance of the ringed shank nail to its lateral strength. Results of this type are a valuable basis on which to build better models when simulating such connections in wood structures.

The thorough experimental characterization of a dowel-type connection under various combinations of bending moments and normal forces is presented in this study. Double-shear steel-to-timber connections with 12 and 20 mm steel dowels were tested in a 4-point bending test set-up. The load, between the connected steel and wood beams, was transferred by the dowels themselves and also via an additional (passive) contact device, which introduced an eccentric normal force in the timber beam. The behavior of the connections was studied at the global scale of the connection and at the local scale of the individual dowels. A non-contact deformation measurement system was used to assess the changes of the location of the center of relative rotation over the entire loading. At the same time, the head deformations of the individual dowels could be measured, giving a direct indication about the force distribution among the dowels. Due to reinforcement, connections behaved distinctly ductile with a global relative rotation of up to 3°. Pre-stressing of the contact device by a force of 40 kN yielded an even stiffer behavior. For the particular configurations tested herein, the center of rotation was found to be close to the vertical axis of symmetry of the joint and close to the top row of the dowels. Moreover, the superimposed vertical shift of the center of relative rotation in case of a delayed normal force could be quantified.

In order to be able to realistically and consistently elucidate and subsequently simulate the load–displacement behavior of single-dowel connections, the material behavior of the individual components, namely steel dowels and wood, needs to be investigated. The behavior of slotted-in, single-dowel steel-to-laminated veneer lumber (LVL) connections with dowel diameters of 12 and 20mm is thoroughly discussed here in relation to steel dowel and LVL properties. In addition to connection tests at different load-to-grain directions of 0°, 45° and 90°, the corresponding embedment behavior of LVL was tested up to dowel displacements of three times the dowel diameter. The material behavior of steel dowels was studied by means of tensile and 3-point bending tests and accompanying finite element simulations. A pronounced nonlinear behavior of the single-dowel connections was observed for all load-to-grain directions. In case of loading perpendicular to the grain, a significant hardening behavior was obvious. Due to the anisotropic material properties of wood, enforcing a loading direction of 45° to the grain resulted in an additional force perpendicular to the load direction which was quantified in a novel biaxial test setup. Thus, a comprehensive and consistent database over different scales of observations of dowel connections could be established, which subsequently was exploited by means of engineering modeling. The comparison of experimental and numerical data illustrates the potential of the engineering modeling approach to overcome drawbacks of current design regulations, which are unable to appropriately predict stiffness properties of dowel connections. Moreover, the quasi-elastic limit of dowel connections was calculated and discussed by means of the model.

An integrative, hierarchically organized testing procedure for the quantification of the load distribution in multi-dowel timber connections is presented herein. The use of contactless deformation ...

Abstract The aim of the experimental study presented herein is the assessment and quantification of the behavior of individual dowels in multi-dowel connections loaded by a bending moment. For this purpose, double-shear, steel-to-timber connections with nine steel dowels arranged in different patterns and with different dowel diameters were tested in four-point bending. In order to achieve a ductile behavior with up to 7° relative rotation, the connections were partly reinforced with self-tapping screws. The reinforcement did not influence the global load–deformation behavior, neither for dowel diameters of 12 mm nor for 20 mm, as long as cracking was not decisive. The deformation of the individual dowels was studied by means of a non-contact deformation measurement system. Thus, the crushing deformation, that is, the deformation at the steel plate, and the bending deformation of the dowels could be quantified. In the case of 12 mm dowels, the bending deformation was larger than the crushing deformation, while it was smaller in the case of 20 mm dowels. Moreover, dowels loaded parallel to the grain showed larger bending deformations than dowels loaded perpendicular to the grain. This indicates that the loading of the individual dowels in the connection differs depending on their location.

During the last decade, the utilization of non-contact deformation measurement systems based on digital image correlation (DIC) has increased in wood related research. By measuring deformations with DIC systems, surface strain fields can be calculated. The first aim of this study concerns the possibility to detect detailed strain fields along the entire length of a wooden board subjected to pure bending and the potential of using such strain fields to determine a bending modulus of elasticity (MOE) profile along a board. Displacements were measured over 12 subareas along a flat surface of the board. For each such area, a separate local coordinate system was defined. After the transformation of locally measured coordinates to a global system, high resolution strain fields and a corresponding bending MOE profile were calculated. A second method in establishing bending MOE profiles is to use fibre angle information obtained from laser scanning and a calculation model based on integration of bending stiffness over board cross sections. Such profiles have recently been utilized for accurate strength grading. A second aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the bending MOE profiles determined using the latter method involving fibre angle information. Bending MOE profiles determined using the two described methods agree rather well. However, for some patterns of knot clusters, the local bending MOE, calculated on the basis of fibre angles and integration of bending stiffness, is overestimated. Hence, this research adds knowledge that may be utilized to improve the newly suggested strength grading method.

Finger jointing of unseasoned Norway Spruce was studied with respect to tensile strength, adhesive penetration and durability. Finger joints were manufactured with 1) unseasoned wood and one component polyurethane (PUR) adhesive, 2) dried wood and PUR adhesive and 3) dried wood and phenol resorcinol formaldehyde (PRF) adhesive. Two levels of wood density were used. The tensile strength of the finger joints was determined and the deformations within the joint were studied with an optical measurement system (ARAMIS). The penetration of the adhesive was studied with x-ray microtomography. The durability of the joints was determined according to the standard ASTM D 4688. The results show that the tensile strength and the durability of green glued finger joints are on the same level as that of dry glued PUR joints. The penetration of the PUR adhesive is high in the unseasoned wood and cavities within the bonds seem to be smaller than in dry glued PUR joints. The tensile strength of the finger joints is dependent on density, independent on the adhesive system used. The strength of the green glued PUR adhesive bonds in finger joints measured with small scale specimens did not differ from the strength of the dry glued PUR bonds.

From previous research, it is well known that a localized modulus of elasticity (MOE) is a better indicating property (IP) of strength than an MOE averaged across a longer span. In this study, it was investigated to what extent the relationship, in terms of coefficient of determination (R2), between strength and localized MOE was dependent on the length across which the MOE was determined. Localized MOE was calculated with MOE profiles based on dot laser scanning of fiber directions, axial dynamic excitation, and a scheme of integration across a board's cross-section. Two board samples were investigated. Maximum R2 values, which were as high as 0.68 and 0.77, respectively, were obtained for localized MOE determined across lengths corresponding to about half the depth of the investigated boards. Consequently, application of a highly localized bending MOE as an IP will result in very competitive grading.

Nailed connections are commonly employed for connecting sheathings to the framing used in shear walls. Although many aspects of such connections have been investigated thoroughly within the researc ...

Timber-glass composite shear wall elements were manufactured with different adhesives. The elements were 1200×2400 mm in size. 12 single pane elements and one element with an insulation glass unit (IGU) were manufactured. The load bearing glass pane was in all cases made from 10 mm float glass. The elements were tested in various loading conditions, involving pure vertical load and different combinations of in-plane shear and vertical loading. The test results show that the influence of the adhesive chosen on the ultimate (buckling) load is only of minor importance. This was also confirmed by finite element analyses.

The results from bending tests on 107 laminated, green-glued, beams manufactured from Norway spruce side boards are presented. The beams were made by face gluing 21-25 mm thick boards using a commercial one-component moisture curing polyurethane adhesive. In addition to the bending test results, results from shape stability measurements after climatic cycling and bond line strength and durability test results are also presented. The results from the bending tests show that, by applying very simple grading rules, it is possible to obtain beams with high bending strength (with a 5%-percentile characteristic value of 40,1 MPa) and substantial stiffness (mean value of 14360 MPa). Also the shape stability of the beams and the strength and the durability of the interlaminar bonds were found to be satisfactory.

Recent research has shown that glulam laminations of Norway spruce side boards possess excellent structural properties. This investigation concerns the possibility of improving the performance of such laminations through elimination of weak board sections by means of finger jointing. Sections to be removed were identified using profiles of edgewise bending stiffness determined on the basis of scanned fibre angle fields on board surfaces. The difference in average tension strength and average tension stiffness, respectively, between a group of finger jointed boards and a reference group of non-jointed boards was evaluated. Joints were inserted in the first group with an average distance of 2.4 m. It was found that the finger jointing gave a considerable increase of strength (36 %), whereas the stiffness improvement was not as evident. Based upon the results, it can be assumed that application of finger jointed side board laminations will result in glulam beams with very high strength.