Comparison of Single- and Two-Bolted LVL Perpendicular-to-Grain Connections. II: Fracture Models

Abstract

Previous research of structural composite lumber connections loaded perpendicular to grain has shown brittle failure by splitting. In previous testing, two different laminated veneer lumber (LVL) materials with single and two bolts in a row loaded perpendicular to grain were compared with fracture mechanics models proposed by Van der Put and Jensen and splitting capacity equations from Eurocode No. 5. Connection strength values of two-bolt connections were larger than single-bolt connections owing to the increased distance to the farthest fastener. The first LVL material (LVL-1) had significantly larger predicted capacity strength values than the other LVL material (LVL-2) for the same configuration owing to larger mode I fracture energy and tension perpendicular-to-grain strength values. A rederivation of the brittle failure constant