M. Yasumura et L. Daudeville, FRACTURE-ANALYSIS OF BOLTED TIMBER JOINTS UNDER LATERAL FORCE PERPENDICULAR TO THE GRAIN, Mokuzai Gakkaishi, 42(3), 1996, pp. 225-233
Crack initiation and propagation in bolted timber joints subjected to
lateral forces perpendicular to the grain were analyzed. Mechanical jo
ints consisting of spruce (Picea spp.) glued-laminated wood and a sing
le bolt of 16 or 20 mm diameter were modeled with the Finite Element M
ethod (FEM), and the crack initiation at the boundary of the bolt hole
was analyzed by means of average stress criterion. The crack propagat
ion parallel to the grain was analyzed by means of Linear Elastic Frac
ture Mechanics (LEFM). The energy release rate (G) and the stress inte
nsity factor (K) were calculated by changing the crack length of the f
inite element model. The critical energy release rate (G(Ic)) and the
critical stress intensity factor (K-Ic) in Mode I were obtained by com
paring the computed values with the maximum load in the lateral loadin
g tests of the joints. The comparison between the experimental and num
erical results with several edge distances and bolt diameters showed t
hat the LEFM provides a good approximation of the load-bearing capacit
ies of bolted joints.