Pull-compression tests on glued-in metric thread rods parallel to grain in glulam and laminated veneer lumber of different timber species

Abstract

Ongoing development of timber and timber products made from European hardwoods like ash and beech influences the selection of acceptable methods for connecting these elements and thus demands validation and application of current design methods for softwood and glulam. For the last 20 years, despite many national and international research projects and practical applications of glued-in rods in timber structures, there is still no universal standard with respect to their design. The use of adhesives available for bonding rods and timber is limited to softwood. This work shows the performance of different timber species Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.), European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and European beech (Fagus silvatica L.) and engineered timber products (laminated veneer lumber made of Norway spruce and European beech) based on comprehensive pull-compression tests of glued-in rods. For characterizing the elastic and elastic-plastic behavior, failure loads as well as stiffness and ductility were considered whereby the rod diameter and anchorage length were maintained constant. The aim of the research was to show that glued-in rods cannot only be used in softwoods and glulam members but also in hardwoods and in wood-based products such as LVL.