Experimental and numerical study on shear properties of timber-to-timber joint using a dowel reinforced with a self-tapping screw

Abstract

Herein, a beech wood dowel reinforced with a self-tapping screw (composite dowel in brief) is proposed. Composite dowels were welded into the predrilled holes by high speed rotation. Force-displacement curves were obtained using a single-shear and dual connection. A double-peaked pattern was found in the bearing process, indicating that the wooden dowel and the self-tapping screw had a synergistic bearing effect in the bearing process. Regarding the failure mode, the self-tapping screw and the wooden dowel were bent, whilst the default wooden dowel fractured. Further, the numerical simulation was carried out using the finite element analysis software ABAQUS, and the result differed from the test value by only 4.30%, showing a high prediction accuracy. The study of the bearing capacity of the composite dowels provides a theoretical basis for the practical application of wooden dowels reinforced by self-tapping screws.