Modeling Bolted Connections in Wood: A Three-Dimensional Finite-Element Approach

Abstract

A three-dimensional (3-D) finite-element model was developed and verified which is capable of predicting the failure mode and load-deformation (P - Δ) behavior of a single bolted connection in wood. The 3-D geometry of the model is complemented by a trilinear orthotropic constitutive model for wood and an elastic-perfectly plastic constitutive characterization of the pin (bolt). The model accounted for the nonlinear behavior found in bolted wood connections associated with wood crushing and geometric nonlinearities at the wood/metal interface. A special contact element was used at the wood/pin interface to enforce a criterion of no pin penetration (i.e., strain compatibility) through the wood member. Experimentally obtained P-Δ curves were compared against those obtained numerically. For all geometries studied, the model proved to capture the characteristics of the experimental analyses.

Determination of Shearing Properties for Tubular Pinewood under Torsion

“…Fundamental works on wood compression were represented as continuous functions [10] [11]. Beside these, these researchers have used bilinear or tri-linear functions for the wood nonlinear modeling [12]- [17]. Generally, 2D analyses with plane-stress or plane-strain assumption were employed by most FE models for wood or wood composites and they were generally unable to completely describe the 3D stress fields.…”