Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Dowelled Timber Connections in Single Shear with the Char Layer Calculation Effect

The main goal of this work is to analyse the thermo-mechanical effect in single shear dowelled timber connections under fire conditions. This research includes the development of numerical models using the finite element method. The numerical methodology was validated using previously published experimental and numerical data. New models were developed to evaluate the temperature evolution, charring rate, and load-bearing capacity of the connections throughout exposure to fire. The calculations based on Eurocode 5 are conservative in the dimensioning of connections at room temperature but have less impact on the design of fire resistance, as they do not consider factors such as geometric parameters or passive protection influence on structural performance. Finally, based on the results obtained, two useful design equations are proposed, allowing the calculation of the load-bearing capacity of single shear timber connections, with or without protection, as a function of fire exposure.