A simple approach for FEM simulation of Mode I cohesive crack growth in glued laminated timber under short-term loading

Abstract

Summary. This paper presents a simple computational approach for the analysis of Mode I short-term cohesive crack growth in glued laminated timber (glulam). The crack growth simulation is performed by using the cohesive elements of Abaqus finite element code in the fracture zone and a suitable exponential damage law. The optimal parameters for the damage law are determined by means of a parametric study involving a certain number of nonlinear analyses for monotonically proportional loads. The numerical method is described through the analysis of a wedge-splitting specimen under Mode I crack propagation taken from the literature. A key point of the paper is the simulation of short-term cohesive crack growth in modified double cantilever beam (DCB) glulam specimens prepared and tested within the present research. The influence of dierent adhesives in the fracture behaviour of wooden bond-lines is studied.