Avaliação experimental da resistência da madeira ao embutimento

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to validate the mechanical connection design formulation presented in CEN EUROCODE 5:2004, for commonly used Brazilian wood species, considering the dowel embedment strength determination according to the testing procedures presented in the normative document BS EN 383:2007. The conducted tests were carried out in the direction parallel to the fibers using six wood species, widely used in Brazil, namely: Caixeta (Tabebuia cassinoides), Cedrinho (Erisma uncinatum), Eucalipto-grandis (Eucalyptus grandis), Garapeira (Apuleia leiocarpa), Itauba (Mezilaurus itauba) e Pinus elliottii (Pinus elliottii). Two species were also tested in the direction perpendicular to the fibers: Eucalipto-grandis (Eucalyptus grandis) and Pinus elliottii (Pinus elliottii). Six different dowel diameters (3, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16 millimeters) were used. The experimental results obtained indicated that the European standard calculation model (with its correspondent dowel embedment strength evaluation procedure) is more adequate than the current Brazilian and North-American standards for designing dowel-type joints in timber structures and testing dowel embedment strength. The mechanical connection performance were estimated with a higher reliability, allowing to design safer joints.