Flexural analysis of laminated solid wood beams with different shear connections

•Flexural analysis of laminated wood beams was performed.•Experimental tests were carried out on the laminated wood beams.•Beams with rigid and elastomeric adhesives, and screws were considered.•Analytical and numerical (finite element) models were also applied.•Experimental tests, analytical and numerical calculations were compared. The paper discusses the mechanical response of laminated solid wood beams with different shear connections. Experimental, analytical (gamma method) and numerical (finite element analysis) procedures were performed to estimate the effect of shear connections on the stiffness and the failure capacity of laminated solid wood beams. The 4-point bending tests were carried out on the simply supported laminated wood beams with rigid adhesive bonding, on laminated wood beams with elastomeric adhesive bonding, on screw-laminated beams (with vertical and inclined screws) and laminated beams without bonding. The results obtained from the experimental tests, and the analytical and the numerical test calculations were analysed and compared. These results show that the flexural stiffnesses of inclined screw-laminated wood beams and of laminated beams with elastomeric adhesive bonding are similar. Both stiffnesses are up to twice the amount of that of vertical screw-laminated wood beams. However, the stiffness of the laminated beams with rigid adhesive is even fifty per cent higher than that of the previously mentioned two similar stiffnesses.