Abstract

In this study, T-joints constructed from Spruce wood and reinforced with glass-fiber fabric have been investigated under bending moment experimentally. Five types of T-joint were investigated. One of them is unreinforced and the others are reinforced with glass epoxy composite laminate. The specimens were subjected to bending moment until the failure of the joint. Five specimens were tested for each configuration. The statistical analyses of those failures load were also performed.Weibull distribution was used for the statistical analysis. Results show that the failure loads of the joints were greatly influenced by the reinforcement. The failure load of the reinforced specimens, the four edges of which were surrounded by glass epoxy composite laminate is twelve times higher than the unreinforced ones.

Key words: Dowel, failure load, glass-fiber fabric, reinforced, Spruce wood, T-type joint.