A Probabilistic Strength Prediction Method for Adhesively Bonded Joints Composed of Wooden Adherends

Abstract

Joining timber structural elements using mechanical fasteners goes against the anisotropic and fibrous nature of the material. Adhesive bonding is by far better adapted, since it permits a smoother load transfer. However, the strength prediction of adhesively bonded wooden joints is difficult brittle nature of the adherends, the complex stress distribution as well as the uncertainties regarding the associated material resistance. As a contribution to help close this research gap, the authors have carried out experimental and analytical investigations on adhesively bonded double lap joints composed of timber. This paper describes the experimental and numerical results and suggests a probabilistic method for the strength prediction of joints composed of brittle adherends and adhesives. The method considers the scale sensitivity of material strength modelled using a Weibull statistical function, and considers both the statistical variation and the size effect in the strength of the material. The probabilistic method presents a mechanical explanation for the increased resistance of local zones subjected to high strain or stress peaks.