Numerical simulation and design method of dowel-type timber joints connecting laminated veneer lumber

Dowel laminated timber (DLT) is a structural engineering wood product composed of laminates connected by wood dowels. It has the characteristics of green, low-carbon, and a high degree of prefabrication. Wood dowel connection is the forming method of DLT, and its joint design is the key to DLT. The properties of laminates affect the mechanical properties of both DLT and dowel-type timber joints. Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is an engineering wood product made by gluing veneers along a fixed grain direction, with excellent physical and mechanical properties. Utilizing small-thickness LVL as the laminates of DLT, a design method of dowel-type timber joints connecting LVL was explored through numerical simulation and theoretical calculation. A three-dimensional finite element model of dowel-type timber joints connecting LVL was presented, and experimental calibration were carried out. The parametric study was adopted to explore the influence of main variables on the shear performance of joints. The calculation formula for the shear capacity of joints was proposed and optimized, and the design method of joints was summarized. The results indicated that the failure mode and shear capacity of joints were dramatically influenced by two variables: the ratio of side laminate thickness to dowel diameter (n) and the thickness ratio of middle-to-side laminate (m). The two variables affected the shear capacity of joints by affecting the failure mode of joints. When the ratio of side laminate thickness to dowel diameter was 1 < n ≤ 3.75, the optimized Johansen theoretical formula could effectively predict the shear capacity of dowel-type timber joints connecting LVL.