Embedment strength characterization of pine wood. Numerical study of the non-linear behaviour

This paper presents experimental and numerical results from embedment tests carried out accordingly the EN383 standard. The experimental program included series of compressive embedment tests, along the parallel and perpendicular-to-grain directions. The specimens were manufactured with maritime pine wood and were loaded using a steel dowel. The load-displacement curves resulted from experimental tests allowed to estimate the embedding strength and the foundation modulus. Concerning the numerical simulations, a plasticity model, based on Hill's criterion, was used to simulate the mechanical behaviour observed in the embedment tests. The wood was modelled as an orthotropic material following an elasto-plastic behaviour. The steel dowel was considered isotropic material and modelled with elastic behaviour. Besides, the interaction between both materials was modelled using contact finite elements. A parametric study to evaluate the influence of dowel/wood clearance and different friction coefficients was performed. The proposed 3D finite element model showed the capability to simulate the non-linear behaviour observed in the experimental embedment tests. An experimental/numerical procedure for the identification of constitutive models aiming the simulation of ductile behaviour of wood was presented. This is particularly important to simulate the mechanical behaviour of doweled joints.