The local bearing capacity perpendicular to grain of structural timber elements

The accuracy and reliability of empirical models for the local bearing capacity perpendicular to grain of timber beams is questionable as it is not based on any fundamental principal. This study shows that a physically based stress dispersion model can successfully be applied for a wide range of practical design situations. The credibility of this model is based on experiments, FEM and optical techniques used to assess and quantify the strength affecting parameters. This model is a potential candidate to be incorporated in future structural timber design standards.

► The dispersion of local bearing stresses is limited to a certain area. ► For Spruce, this area will not exceed 40% of the beam depth with a maximum of 140 mm. ► Only the dispersion model by Van der Put predicts the bearing strength accurately.