Analysis of load-slip characteristics of nailed wood joints: application of a two-dimensional geometric nonlinear analysis

We used a two-dimensional finite element method to analyze the load-slip characteristics of nailed wooden joints sheathed with a panel. We used tests of nail bending, nail shank embedment in a wood or a panel, nail-head embedment in a face of a panel, nail withdrawing from a wood, friction between a wood and a panel, and initial axial forces of the nails. The values of the material properties for the analytical models were determined with the above tests. With a conventional one-dimensional analysis it is impossible to evaluate the shearing performance accurately because the axial forces of the nail are not calculated. Therefore, we used two-dimensional geometric nonlinear analysis. The computed load-slip curves closely matched the original experimental results; and when the friction and initial axial forces were considered, the computed curves were more likely to match the original experimental results. Our results suggested that it is better to use geometric nonlinear analysis to analyze the shearing characteristics of nailed joints, and that friction and axial forces are important factors for accurate analysis.Parts of this report were presented at the 7th World Conference on Timber Engineering, Malaysia, August 2002