Edinburgh Napier University

  Three-dimensional non-linear finite element analysis was used to study the structural behaviour and performance of timber joints made with welded steel gusset plates and dowels. The behaviour of such structural systems, which consist of timber members sandwiched between steel plates and connected by welded steel dowels, is relatively complex and their response can be non-linear even at working loads. This non-linear behaviour is caused by a number of factors which include the non-homogeneous orthotropic nature of timber, grain orientation, moisture content, duration of loading, bearing characteristics, and deformation and yield of the welds, steel dowels and plates. The present attempt to model the doweled timber connection behaviour by using material properties data and experimental results, carried out under laboratory controlled moisture content and loading duration, aims at the validation of a suitable finite-element model as a design tool. The paper describes the analytical part of the investigation with an overview of the experimental work. Analytical results, although at an intermediate stage, are in good agreement with the experimental tests.