Capacity prediction of bonded beech joints under normal and elevated temperatures

Research on adhesively bonded timber connection has proven their superiority over mechanical fasteners in terms of strength and stiffness, but such research was often limited to consider softwood. Despite its abundant availability in Central Europe and its high mechanical resistance, which make it a promising material for structural applications, beech is only rarely considered as a structural material. Furthermore, research on bonded timber joints was almost exclusively carried out at room temperature. The research presented herein contributes to fill these two gaps by experimentally and numerically investigating adhesively bonded beech joints under elevated temperatures. A capacity prediction method is offered which sets the basis for subsequent dimensioning methods that at term enable practitioners to design their structures.