Perpendicular-to-grain dowel-bearing strength behavior of side pressure laminated bamboo lumber

Abstract

Research on dowel-bearing strength is an indispensable part of bolt connections. The size effect (length, width, and thickness), bolt diameter, and the arrangement of bamboo units are examined in this research, to study their influence on the dowel-bearing behavior of side pressure laminated bamboo lumber (LBL). The test results show that when the specimen length and width are 5 times larger than the bolt diameter, and the thickness is 3 times larger than the bolt diameter, the dowel-bearing strength of the specimen tends to be stable. The stiffness of the standard size specimen (80 mm × 80 mm × 40 mm) reaches the minimum at 16 mm of bolt diameter, and the dowel-bearing strength remains stable after 16 mm of the bolt diameter. The increase in the specimen thickness can enhance the ability of the specimen to oppose deformation. Comparing the two different arrangements of bamboo units, it is found that the strength and stiffness of the specimen with a horizontal arrangement (ZRT) are lower than those with a vertical arrangement (ZTR). Finally, a new formula to predict the perpendicular-to-grain dowel-bearing strength of side pressure LBL is reconstructed based on existing specifications.