Finite element modelling of wooden structures at large deformations and brittle failure prediction

This paper presents a constitutive wood model that accounts for both hardening associated with material densification at large compressive deformations and brittle failure modes. The model is adapted from previous work by the authors and has been modified to deal with wood behaviours. The main novelty of the model is the coupling between the anisotropic plasticity and the ductile densification. The model developed is successfully implemented in the commercial ABAQUS software. Validation was made for uniaxial compressive loadings and an application on a three-points bending test. The results obtained, for the uniaxial compressive loadings, demonstrate the capability of the model to simulate the wood behaviour at large compressive deformations and show clearly the effect of the densification on the plastic behaviour. The result obtained for the three-points bending test shows a good implementation of the brittle failure criterion and demonstrates the suitability of the developed model to analyse and design wooden structures. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.