Experimental and Numerical Study of Glulam Beams with Holes of Varying Configurations
Abstract
Service penetrations in glulam beams create stress concentrations that can initiate cracks and reduce structural capacity. This study combines experimental testing and advanced numerical modelling to evaluate the influence of hole shape, size, and number on the behaviour of glulam beams. Eighteen beams across eight configurations—without holes, with single round or rectangular holes of varying sizes, and with multiple round holes of varying sizes—were tested under mid‐span loading. Beams with holes exhibited brittle tension‐perpendicular‐to‐grain and shear‐parallel‐to‐grain failures, with round holes reducing capacity by 20–25% and rectangular holes causing larger reductions in both stiffness and strength. A robust finite element framework was developed in Abaqus using detailed geometry, layer‐refined meshing, cylindrical orthotropic material systems, and the WoodST continuum damage mechanics model to simulate anisotropic crack evolution. The models were calibrated using two configurations and validated against all tests, showing good agreement in load–displacement response and failure mechanisms. The test results provide essential insight into brittle failure mechanisms around service penetrations, while the validated numerical framework offers a reliable tool for predicting the structural response of perforated glulam beams and supporting improved design and future fire‐performance guidelines.
Reference
Zhiyong Chen; Christian Dagenais. (2026). Experimental and Numerical Study of Glulam Beams with Holes of Varying Configurations. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6485050
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