Finite element modelling and testing of timber laminated beams fastened with compressed wood dowels

Engineered Wood Products (EWPs) are materials used for structural applications worldwide. However, there are concerns with the adhesives typically used in these EWPs, which are usually toxic and harmful to the environment. As sustainability remains a major goal of the current environmental agenda, this paper describes the design, manufacture, finite element modelling and testing of laminated timber beams fastened with compressed wood dowels which can be used for structural applications. These Adhesive Free Laminated Timber (AFLT) beams manufactured from timber laminae and fastened with compressed wood dowels, offer a potential alternative to conventional glulam beams. Finite Element (FE) models were developed using a commercial software (ABAQUS) to aid the design and optimisation of the AFLT beams. The results from the FE analyses are compared and validated with those from the experimental tests. Furthermore, the results obtained from this research give a useful understanding of the development and testing of a new and sustainable adhesive free engineered wood product.