Numerical Modelling of the Mechanical Behaviour and Failure Modes of Timber Beams with Lapped Scarf Joints Using Wooden Dowels

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the mechanical behaviour and failure modes of a timber beam with a lapped scarf joint connected by wooden dowels. A finite element model was developed in Abaqus to analyse the structural response of the joint under bending loading. The timber material was modelled as an orthotropic material with nonlinear behaviour, incorporating an appropriate failure criterion to capture stiffness degradation and damage initiation in the structural components. In addition, different contact modelling assumptions between the elements of the joint were considered in order to evaluate their influence on the numerical results. The analysis shows that the numerical model is able to reproduce the global structural response of the beam with reasonable accuracy. However, significant differences in stress distribution and predicted failure modes are observed when different contact assumptions are adopted. The results highlight the important role of contact modelling in the numerical simulation of timber connections with wooden dowels and provide further insight for the development of more reliable finite element models for traditional timber joints