Embedment Strength of Dowelled Connections of Glulam Timber at Elevated Temperatures
Abstract
ABSTRACT Mass timber construction widely employs dowelled connections, whose fire performance at elevated temperatures is critical for structural safety. In such connections, load‐carrying capacity is primarily determined by the embedment strength of timber rather than the yield strength of dowels because the steel dowels act as heat sources and transfer heat to the surrounding timber. This study investigates the embedment behavior of dowelled connections under elevated‐temperature conditions using a heating method in which the dowels themselves serve as heat sources. Both steady‐state (ST) tests under constant temperature and transient‐state (TR) tests under constant load were conducted. The ST tests showed a slight reduction in embedment strength between 100°C and 200°C for specimens loaded parallel and perpendicular to the grain. In contrast, the TR tests exhibited a continuous decrease beyond 100°C. Based on these results, reduction factors of approximately 0.5 at 100°C and 0 at 300°C are proposed. Finite element analysis indicated that, for loading parallel to the grain, stresses were concentrated in the embedment region with limited influence from the global temperature distribution. In contrast, for loading perpendicular to the grain, stresses were more widely distributed, and the temperature distribution had a significant effect on the embedment behavior. These results demonstrate the temperature‐dependent embedment behavior of dowelled connections and highlight the importance of considering both loading direction and temperature distribution when evaluating timber connections under elevated‐temperature conditions.
Reference
Shunsuke Saito; Takayuki Kikuchi; Yukito Nakayama; Marina Totsuka; Takeo Hirashima. (2026). Embedment Strength of Dowelled Connections of Glulam Timber at Elevated Temperatures. Fire and Materials. https://doi.org/10.1002/fam.70087
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