Probabilistic strength prediction of adhesively bonded timber joints

The strength prediction of adhesively bonded timber joints is difficult due to the anisotropic and brittle nature of the adherends, the complex stress distribution as well as the uncertainties regarding the associated material resistance. This paper describes a probabilistic method for the strength prediction of balanced double lap timber joints. The method considers the statistical variation and the size effect in the strength of timber using a Weibull statistical function. The design method presents an explanation for the increased resistance of local zones subjected to high stress peaks as it takes into account not only the magnitude of the stress distributions, but also the volume over which they act. The predicted joint strengths are slightly underestimated compared with the experimental results due to inaccurate upper tail modelling of the material strength by the Weibull statistical distribution. The probabilistic method provides reasonable results for brittle joint failure and has immediate application in the design of adhesively bonded timber joints.     

Yield load prediction of nailed timber joints using nail diameter and timber specific gravity

Prediction of yield load has nowadays been accepted as the basis for the limit state method of the design. Currently, there are many methods to predict the yield load of timber joints. These methods, i.e Foschi, Johansen, Smith and US 5% nail diameter offset, are reviewed in-depth in this paper. In this study, the authors presented a new approach which, hopefully, is simpler than the existing methods. The paper outlines the works carried out to arrive at the formula. About 300 Malaysian timber nailed joints were fabricated and tested to obtain the relationship between yield load and maximum load and to propose a new method to predict the yield load of a nailed joint. There seems to be a direct relationship between the yield load and the maximum load. From this relationship, a new formula, which depends only on nail diameter and specific gravity, was established.     

Measurement of strain distribution in timber finger joints

Timber finger joints bonded with melamine urea formaldehyde and one-component polyurethane were strained in tension. The deformation of wood in the finger joint area during the mechanical experiment was observed by means of 2-D electronic speckle-pattern interferometry (ESPI). Owing to the application of a surface treatment procedure developed for ESPI experiments, high-quality maps of the distribution of axial, transverse, and shear strain in the finger jointed area were obtained.     

Experimental and numerical investigations on adhesively bonded timber joints

Adhesively bonding of timber structural elements provides new opportunities as it is well adapted for the anisotropic and fibrous nature of the material. Experimental and numerical investigations were carried out on adhesively bonded full-scale double-lap joints composed of timber adherends (spruce) and adhesive layers. The influence of different geometric parameters and adhesives on the joint strength was studied. The investigated geometric parameters were the thickness of the adhesive layer (0.5–2.0?mm), the overlap length (40–280?mm), and the ductility of the adhesive (using three different adhesives). It was found that the joint strength was independent of the adhesive layer thickness (for the thickness range investigated) that the joint strength increased with the overlap length up to an apparent maximum of approximately 200?mm and that strength was almost independent of the adhesive stiffness. The numerical investigation was in good agreement with the experimental results and allows for the model to be used for strength prediction of the investigated joints.     

Effect of decay on shear performance of dowel-type timber joints

Monotonic and reversed cyclic loading tests were conducted on dowel-type timber joints with varying degrees of wood decay due to Fomitopsis palustris (Berk. et Curt.), a brown rot fungus, and the effect of decay on various shear performances of dowel-type joints was investigated. For joints affected by the brown rot fungus, the initial stiffness, yield load, and maximum load of dowel-type joints were significantly decreased, even with a small mass loss of wood. The reductions in shear performance were the largest for initial stiffness, followed by yield load and maximum load, in that order. For a 1% reduction of the yield load, initial stiffness and maximum load showed reductions of 1.15% and 0.77%, respectively. When dowel-type joints that had been exposed to the brown rot fungus were subjected to reversed cyclic loading, the gap between the dowel and the lead hole of the wood was increased and equivalent viscous damping was decreased. These results indicate that decay around the dowel lead hole especially affects the load-displacement behavior at small displacement level, and dowel-type joints under cyclic loading have very low resistance to forces acting on the wooden structure. Part of this report was presented at the 5th Symposium on Timber Bridges of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Tokyo, July 2006; the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Akita, August 2006; and the Annual Meeting of the Architectural Institute of Japan, Fukuoka, August 2007     

Prediction of the load carrying capacity of bolted timber joints

Failure of bolted timber joints is analyzed experimentally and numerically. In this study, the prediction of the load-carrying capacity of dowel-type joints with one dowel under static loading is based on the analysis of fracture in wood contrarily to most engineering methods that are based on the yield theory. Mechanical joints consist of glued laminated spruce members and steel dowels. In the different analyzed tests, the bolt loads the wood parallel or perpendicular to the grain. The wood member thickness is chosen sufficiently thin to avoid the fastener from presenting plastic hinges. The influences of different structural parameters such as the dowel diameter, the edge- and end-distances are investigated. The fracture propagation analysis is carried out with the Finite Element (FE) method in the framework of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM). The only identified parameter is the critical energy release rate in mode I (G_Ic). The comparison between experimental and numerical results shows that the fracture must be considered for a correct prediction of the ultimate load and that LEFM can help to improve design codes. Received 11 August 1997     

One-year stress relaxation of timber joints assembled with pretensioned bolts

In our previous study, great increases of hysteretic damping and initial slip resistance of timber joints were attained by applying axial pretension to the steel fasteners. To evaluate the effectiveness of this method, 1-year stress-relaxation measurement was carried out. Nine prestressed joints were prepared and three of them were restressed after 3 and then 6 months after the initial prestressing. All joints were exposed to indoor conditions, and relaxation of the pretension was regularly measured from time-dependent decreases of axial strain of the bolts. After measurement, the joints were subjected to cyclic and monotonic loading tests until failure. The average ratio of residual stress to the initial prestress after 1 year was about 0.23 and 0.66, respectively, for joints without restressing and those with restressing. A simulated stress-relaxation curve developed from the four-element relaxation model predicted 3% of the initial stress after 5 years. Without a regular restressing program, the initial prestressing effect therefore must be considered negligible. However, about 20% of the pre-stress level can be reasonably assumed if restressing is carried out annually. This small residual stress was found to introduce suffi cient frictional damping to signifi cantly increase the equivalent viscous damping ratio of the joints. Part of this study was presented at the 10th World Conference on Timber Engineering, Miyazaki, June 2008     

Effective lateral resistance of combined timber joints with nails and bolts

An experimental study on combined steel-to-timber joints with nails and bolts is conducted in this study. Principal results are as follows: The initial stiffness and effective allowable resistance of combined joints depend obviously on clearances in predrilled bolt-holes. The combined joints with nails and bolts have high potential of energy capacity to resist strong earthquake forces. There are upper limits of clearances in predrilled bolt-holes that allow advantages of considering the synthetic resistance of combined joints in practical structural design. Combining the joint components with appropriate design will give higher performance against strong earthquakes increasing the safety margin and energy capacity until the failure. The combined joints should be designed under the restrictions of particular specifications in closed design systems because the advantages of combining the joint components are influenced obviously by various actual conditions, which are too difficult to consider in detail in open design systems.     

Effect of moisture content of members on mechanical properties of timber joints

To investigate the effect of moisture content (MC) of members on the mechanical properties of timber joints, bending tests of precut joints and shear tests of dowel-type joints were carried out using timbers of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) with three moisture conditions: green, kiln-dried with a MC target of 15%, and over-kiln-dried with a MC target of 5%. For the bending test, timbers were processed with a precut processing machine into “koshikake-ari” (a kind of dovetail joint) and “koshikake-kama” (a kind of mortise and tenon joint). A pair of members was jointed together without mechanical fasteners. Bolts (diameter = 12 mm) and nails (diameter = 2.45 mm) were used as dowels in the shear test. Bolted joints were constructed with one bolt and two metal side plates. Two nails and two metal side plates were used for the nailed joint. For precut joints, no clear effect of MC was recognized on maximum moment and initial stiffness. The maximum strength of mechanical joints assembled with kiln-dried wood was changed by the degree of drying. Stiffness of the joints assembled with kiln-dried specimens was larger than that of the joints assembled with green specimens.Part of this study was presented at the 7th International IUFRO Wood Drying Conference, Tsukuba, July 2001     

Effects of pretension in bolts on hysteretic responses of moment-carrying timber joints

The adoption of a concept similar to the prestressing technique used in laminated wood decks of bridge structures might increase the initial stiffness or ultimate resistance of dowel-type timber joints by applying pretension to their bolts. This study investigated the effect of pretension in bolts on hysteretic responses and ultimate properties of moment-carrying timber joints with steel side plates. A pretension of 20 kN that yielded a prestress level of 1600 kPa or about 90% of the allowable long-term end-bearing strength of spruce species was applied to the bolts of prestressed joints. The superiority of the prestressed joint over the non-pre-stressed joint was proved by very high hysteretic damping, equivalent viscous damping ratio, and cyclic stiffness. At any given rotation level, hysteretic damping reduction and moment resistance decrement due to continuously reversed loads were found to be small because bolt pretensioning minimized the pinching effect. This study showed that the hysteresis loop of the prestressed joint can be obtained by adding the frictional hysteresis loop due to pretension force into the hysteresis loop of the non-pre-stressed joint. Despite a great increase of initial stiffness, only slight increments in ductility coefficient and ultimate moment resistance were found in the prestressed joint.     

Lateral resistance of anchor-bolt joints between timber sills and foundations II. Effective lateral resistance of multiple anchor-bolt joints

Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to estimate the effective lateral resistance of multiple anchor-bolt joints with ordinary specifications of Japanese post and beam constructions. Basic lateral load-slip curves of single anchor-bolt joints required in the simulations were determined from the test results of our earlier report. The effective lateral resistance of multiple anchor-bolt joints was estimated for some combinations of loading direction, length/diameter ratio of anchor bolts, lead-hole clearance, and number of anchor bolts. The principal results of the simulations are: (1) anchor-bolt joints loaded perpendicular to lateral forces are not recommended to be counted as supplementary resisting elements because their supplementary shares are far less than those expected from their allowable lateral resistance; (2) multiple anchor-bolt joints with small length/diameter ratios have comparatively lower effective resistance ratios than multiple anchor-bolt joints with large length/diameter ratios; (3) the effective resistance of multiple anchor-bolt joints is affected not only by lead-hole clearance or number of bolts but also variance of load-slip characteristics of single anchor-bolt joints. Part of this work was presented at WCTE2004, Lahti, June 2004     

Relationship between clamp force and pull-out strength in lag screw timber joints

This study empirically examines the relationship between clamp force and pull-out strength in lag screw joints of timber members, using data obtained in tightening tests and pull-out tests. Maximum clamp force per unit screw length as determined from the tightening tests was lower than the lower bound for the 95% tolerance range for pull-out strength per unit screw length as determined from the pull-out tests. Moreover, X-ray CT (computed tomography) observations of anchor members from both tests revealed that failure behavior clearly differed between the tightening test and the pull-out test: tightening caused damage to the wooden, female thread in addition to major splitting damage in the wood perpendicular to the grain near the tip of the lag screw.     

Sub-regional timber demand analysis: Remarks and an approach for prediction

After briefly outlining various approaches and problems associated with estimating small area demand functions, a simultaneous equations approach is presented. Timber demand and supply equations are estimated for Montana by first estimating the indirect least squares form of the equations and then analytically determining the parameters of the original equations. The results indicate the ability to formulate timber demand schedules for smaller areas than had previously been the case. This should improve the accuracy of local demand estimates.     

Estimation of stiffness and strength in timber knee joints with adhesive and verification by experiment

The use of adhesive joints is gradually increasing, especially those with glued-in steel rods (GIRs). There are, however, some problems with the design methods when used for moment-transmitting applications. In this article, design methods for GIRs and cross-lapped glued joints (CLJs) are proposed. For CLJs, we made a hypothesis that both rotational deformation of CLJ and stress of the glue line occurred with bending and shearing deformation of the timber. Using this hypothesis and Kelvin’s theorem, a mechanical model of CLJ is proposed. For GIRs, the axial stress component of the rod and the lateral stress component of the rod were taken into account using the theory of a beam on an elastic foundation. From the comparisons between calculations and experimental results, it was recognized that the stiffness and strength of CLJs and GIRs could be predicted precisely using our proposed models.     

Estimation of yield and ultimate strengths of bolted timber joints by nonlinear analysis and yield theory

A finite element nonlinear analysis was conducted on bolted timber joints under lateral loads parallel and perpendicular to the grain. The results obtained from this analysis were compared with the experimental results and calculated values based on the yield theory. The analysis and experiment were performed on double shear bolted joints parallel and perpendicular to the grain with steel side plates and a slotted-in steel plate. It was found from the analysis that the yielding of wood and bolt occurred before the overall yielding of the bolted joint. Shear strength of bolted joints calculated from the yield theory using the embedding yield strength of wood and the yield moment of the bolt showed comparatively good agreement with the shear strength evaluated by 5% offset of the load–slip curve in the experiment and analysis. The shear strength of the bolted joint calculated from the yield theory using the embedding ultimate strength of wood and the ultimate moment of the bolt agreed quite well with the shear strength evaluated by the maximum load up to 15mm slip in the analysis. The former, parallel and perpendicular to the grain, were 11% and 34%, on average smaller than the latter in the experiment.Part of this paper was presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, April 2002; the Annual Meeting of Architectural Institute of Japan 2002, Ishikawa, August 2002; and the World Conference on Timber Engineering 2002, Shah Alam, Malaysia, August 2002     

Shear tests of timber joints composed of sugi composite glulam beams using newly developed steel connectors

A research project supported by the Japan Wood Working Machinery Association has been conducted since 1999 to examine the feasibility of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) composite glulam beams reinforced with Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco) lamination. This study, part of the project, was concerned with the strength properties of timber joints composed of composite glulams using newly developed structural steel connectors. Two types of beam were prepared: 10 plies (inner 6 plies sugi, outer 4 plies Douglas fir) and 8 plies (inner 4 plies sugi, outer 4 plies Douglas fir). Two types of structural steel connector, Haratec and Standard, were used for joining the beam with a post or a girder. The relation between load and deformation of the joints was represented as a typical nonlinear curve. Initial stiffness and maximum load of the joint composed of the composite glulam were in the range between those of sugi and Douglas fir. Strength properties of the joints varied with three variables: type of connector, depth of the glulams, and the type of joint. Thus, the allowable loads for the connectors should be determined for each combination of these variables.     

Effects of tightening speed on torque coefficient in lag screw timber joints with steel side plates

To investigate the effects of tightening speed on the torque coefficient in lag screw timber joints with steel side plates, tightening tests were conducted on main timber members made from Cryptomeria japonica, Chamaecyparis obtusa and Pseudotsuga menziesii, under four tightening speed conditions (1, 4, 10, and 20 rpm). Major stick-slip behavior was observed in C. obtusa based on the relationship of tightening angle with clamp force, tightening torque, and thread torque at tightening speeds of 1 and 4 rpm. In addition, tightening speed’s effects on the torque coefficient (K) varied depending on the wood species of the main member. In P. menziesii, K was not affected by the tightening speed: the ratio of torque expended on tightening was 25% on average, and the ratio of torque expended on bearing surface friction was higher than the ratio of torque expended on thread friction.