3rd International Conference on Timber Bridges

Parallel splitting mode failure in dowel type connections with chamfer cuts.

Katarzyna Ostapska-Luczkowska Kjell Arne Malo

PhD Candidate Professor
NTNU, Department of Structural NTNU, Department of Structural
Engineering Engineering
Richard Birkelands vei 1A Richard Birkelands vei 1A
7491 Trondheim 7491 Trondheim
katarzyna.ostapska-luczkowska@ntnu.no kjell.malo@ntnu.no

Abstract

Dowel type connections are protected from parallel to grain splitting and shear plug failure by
requirement of minimal distances defined in Eurocode 5. Therefore in practice, failure modes
considered in evaluation of the capacity of the connection concern either embedment strength
of timber or plastic hinges in metallic dowels. However, certain geometrical configurations of
dowel type connections may satisfy the minimum normal and parallel to grain distances to
free edge or end, but might have less resistance against parallel to grain splitting. Currently
there are no regulations in Eurocode 5 on how to deal with connections having chamfered cuts
towards the free end. This layout has frequently been used in trusswork timber bridges, but
without a sound basis for evaluation of the structural behavior.

This paper investigates the influence of end and edge distances as well as corner chamfers on
the possibility of splitting. For this purpose numerical simulations including nonlinear fracture
model were performed. The cracks are simulated by the means of cohesive zone model with
normal and shearing modes considered. The initiation criterion for fracture is based on the
wood shear strength and crack propagation is subsequently ruled by fracture energy as an
inherent material property. The wood material is considered orthotropic elastic with plasticity
modelled locally to include parallel fiber compression failure due to the embedment of dowels
in timber. The numerical model was validated on the experimental results available in the
literature and it is believed to give sound results within reasonable limits of the range of
change of parameters. Conclusions, as to when and if the parallel splitting or shear plug
failure should be considered while designing dowel type connections, are drawn based on the
results of the simulations. The comparison with current Eurocode recommendations is
presented.