Finite-element model for nailed wood joints under reversed cyclic load

This paper presents a nonlinear finite-element model for predicting the load-slip response of a single-shear nailed wood joint under reversed cyclic loading. Of particular interest is the post-yielding region of the load-slip response at which the deformation of the nail is large. In the proposed theory, the nail is modeled using a finite beam element approximation that incorporates the effects of large deformation and hysteretic nature of the stress-strain behavior of the material. The embedment behavior of wood under the action of a nail is described through a hysteresis model developed by the writers. In addition the effects of shear deformation in the nail and friction between nail and wood are incorporated into the model. Results from material tests conducted to characterize the embedment behavior of wood and stress-strain curve of nail material, and from joint tests to verify the finite-element model, are presented. A comparison of test data with model predictions demonstrates the validity of the model. The present theory can be extended to analyze wood joints containing other dowel-type fasteners.