Flexural strength characterisation of oblique radiata pine splice joints

Abstract

Sawn timber is marketed in limited length, so larger construction sizes require structural joining solutions for discrete elements. Traditional carpentry joints allow wood elements to be joined in a sustainable way, as they may not require adhesives or metal implements, such as nails or plates. In this research, the mechanical behaviour during the bending of four different oblique splices, made of radiata pine, has been studied. The results obtained show that the vertical oblique rabbetted splice (ROVS) had the best bending performance, with a strength of 43% compared to the solid control specimen (C), followed by the metal splice (MC) with a strength of 34%. The other splices studied, Rabbeted Oblique Scarf Splice (ROSS), Mortised Rabbeted Oblique Splice (MROS), and Oblique Splice Diamont (OSDP) showed flexural strengths of less than 25%, compared to the control specimen (C). The failure observed in the tested joints corresponds to a characteristic flexural and shear failure, where the predominant cracks retained the same direction generated by the discontinuity of the joints and were located in the central zone of the specimen, where the flexural and shear stresses are at a maximum.