Numerical Investigation of Reinforcement of Timber Elements in Compression Perpendicular to the Grain using Densified Wood Dowels

In recent years, the construction industry has seen a greater focus on use of sustainable materials to reduce environmental impact buildings. Timber is one such material that revival in its due credentials coupled with advances manufacture engineered wood products and connection technologies. While timber have high strength-to-weight ratio suitable for large scale construction, an orthotropic demonstrates poorer strength when loaded perpendicular grain. As result, special consideration must be given design areas support where stress grain develops structures. This paper describes study which examines densified dowels as reinforcement against stresses using experimental numerical approaches. Glued laminated samples were reinforced 2, 4 6 dowels. The results show significant improvements load-bearing capacity can achieved. A full 3-dimensional solid finite element model been implemented ABAQUS/Explicit software. utilises cohesive zone modelling (CZM) Hill plastic yield criterion predict failure behaviour specimens utilising dowel reinforcement. examined approach shown give good predictions performance dowel-timber interaction composite system. also used parametric examine influence diameter length behaviour. maximum length-to-diameter recommended based