Wood Dowel Bearing Strength Calculator

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Wood Dowel Bearing Strength Calculator

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Wood Maximum Dowel Bearing Strengths, for Dowel-Type Fasteners in Wood Members

Dowel bearing length in the side member(s) and main member, is best determined based on the length of dowel bearing perpendicular to the application of load. For cross-laminated timber where the direction of loading relative to the grain orientation at the shear plane is parallel to grain, the dowel bearing length in the perpendicular plies shall be reduced by multiplying the bearing length of those plies by the ratio of dowel bearing strength perpendicular to grain to dowel bearing strength parallel to grain.

For Dowels 1/4" ≤ D ≤ 1"
Eq. 1
F_e|| = 11,200 G

For Dowels perpendicular
Eq. 2
F_ep = (6,100 G^1.45) / D^0.5

Eq. 3
for D < 1/4"
F_e = 16,000 G^1.84

Where:

F_e|| = Dowel installed parallel to wood grain, lbs/in²
F_ep = Dowel installed perpendicular to wood grain, lbs/in²
F_e = Dowel less than 1/4" diameter, lbs/in²
D = dowel diameter, in
G = Specific gravity

Source:

National Design Specification for Wood Construction (AWC-NDS)
American Wood Council