Numerical modelling of 3D dowelled timber joints using advanced fully coupled hydro-mechanical constitutive equations

Abstract

In this work, a constitutive law describing the hydro-mechanical behaviour of wood is presented. The main novelty of developed 3D F.E. model, among literature hardening models, is the coupling between plasticity and moisture effect. The hydro-mechanical wood behaviour is analyzed within the framework of non-linear mechanical theory of Mechanical Continuous Media (MMC). The local integration of constitutive laws is carried out with an iterative implicit outline using plastic corrections and the calculus procedure is implemented on Abaqus software and validated in the context of dowelled timber joints. The results of simulation were compared with published experimental results, showing good agreements and demonstrating clearly the effect of the moisture on the plastic behaviour.