Numerical Modeling of the Failure Behavior of Dowel Connections in Wood

Abstract

Finite-element (FE) analysis makes it possible to investigate different parameters and their effect on the carrying capacity or failure behavior of a component in an easy and cost-effective way. But to do this, the numerical model needs to reproduce the material behavior as close to reality as possible. This paper presents a numerical model developed to simulate the complex failure behavior of dowel connections in wood loaded perpendicular to grain. This includes both the ductile behavior, such as the embedding or bearing failure under the dowel or supports, and the brittle failure, such as cracking of the wood near the dowels. Using contact elements, the crack growing under tension perpendicular to grain and/or shear stresses can be modeled explicitly. The linear elastic-plastic stress-strain behavior of the wood allows one to simulate the plastic deformations of the ductile behavior. The comparison of the numerical results with the load capacity of different experimental test series confirms that the numerical model is accurate and useful to extend existing experimental test series.