M. Oudjene

Application of Numerical Modelling to Dowel-Welded Wood Joints

Numerical models using a 3-D finite element analysis method and the behaviour of dowel-welded wood joints are presented. Simulation results for step butt wood joints with two welded wood dowels under shear are analyzed and a good agreement with the experimental results is shown. Anisotropic elasto-plastic constitutive law with hardening associated with material densification, without distinction between radial and tangential properties, was used for the compressive behaviour of wood. The good coherence of the results obtained demonstrates clearly the capability of the model developed to simulate accurately the non-linear behaviour of dowel-welded wood joints to failure.

Confinement device to assess dynamic crushability of wood material

Cellular materials such as wood are widely and advantageously used as shock absorbers in various transport applications. The design and manufacturing of structures made of these materials require the knowledge of their dynamic compressive properties at various strain rates and stress states. Therefore, it is challenging to conduct dynamic multiaxial stress state experiments and especially on split-Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus where stress hardening increases as a function of velocity. This paper presents the so-called verification and validation methodology for confining solutions dedicated to impact on viscoelastic split-Hopkinson pressure bar system with large diameter bars. The method is a hybrid approach combining finite element analysis and an original experimental validation. Based on finite element results, particular attention is given to the mass, the material and the geometry to minimize the confining device influence on the propagation of elastic waves and thus on the material response of the tested specimens. It is essential to avoid spurious reflected waves at the new interfaces of the system in order to ensure the validity of the experimentation. The numerically predicted solutions are experimentally validated and preliminary results in the context of dynamic loadings using wood material are presented.