Spliting of timber caused by multiple connections

The models developed in the past that aim at predicting the splitting failure of timber beams loaded perpendicular to grain by connections are empirical, semi-empirical or based linear elastic fracture mechanics and consider only one connection at mid span. These models have been calibrated to these single connection mid span test. Laboratory test are presented for multiple connections. Few model attempted to explain and predict the behavior for multiple connections but they were not very successful. The model presented in this paper by Schoenmakers [6], which is based on linear elastic fracture mechanics, explains the test results with more success although it is limited to apply to two connections for the time being