An empirical prediction law for quasi-static nail–plywood penetration resistance

•Study of tribo-dynamic interactions at wood–nail interface during fastening.•Analysis of various nail geometries and sizes, and plywood types.•Dimensionless parameters studied over quasi-static velocity range.•Penetration resistance force (PRF) composed of deformation–fracture and friction forces.•Development of a PRF prediction model for plywood–nail combinations.

This paper presents an empirical model predicting penetration resistance forces (PRF) imposed on nails when penetrating plywood samples at quasi-static velocities (20–500 mm/min range). The formulation covers various nail geometries and sizes and three plywood types. A universal testing machine was used to drive the nail into the wood samples at constant speeds. The machine measured PRF as a function of the position. The analysis reduces the studied factors to dimensionless parameters. More than 200 experiments were conducted over the parameter space, and the final formulation derives from regressions. Test cases showed an overall precision of PRF prediction above 89%.

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