A Parametric Investigation of the Influence of Knots on the Flexural Behavior of Timber Beams

The presence of knots significantly influences the mechanical behavior of timber. This research presents a parametric finite element analysis of the effect of knot characteristics on the flexural capacity of timber beams. Parameters include knot radius, longitudinal and vertical positions, length, and diving angle. The generation of the FE model is based on a technique developed in a previous research stage. The validation of the model is done via bending tests on a set of beams as well as a number of independent research studies. The numerical model accurately recreates the three-dimensional geometry of the knot and related fiber deviations. The capacity of the beams under bending is evaluated via the Tsai–Wu failure criterion. Findings reveal that the presence of knots in the tension zone leads to an early tensile failure and insufficient utilization of compression capacity, the decrease of bending capacity may rise significantly (up to 39% in this investigation), the knot inclination may positively or negatively influence the behavior depending on the diving angle, and moderate knot length can be detrimental to flexural capacity.