Evaluation of Bearing Strength of Self-Tapping Screws according to the Grain Direction of Domestic Pinus densiflora

To evaluate the bearing strength of red pine cross-laminated timber (CLT) with self-tapping screw (STS), which is widely used as a fastener for connection in CLT building, the bearing test was conducted. Accoring to the STS’s diameters (8, 10, 12 mm), the bearing test specimens with half hole were manufactured. Bearing strength was compared and reviewed in consideration of the configuration in STS and the loading direction to the grain of red pine. As a result of the bearing test on the STS’s diameter, the yield bearing load increases as the larger diameter of the STS in all directions of the red pine. The bearing strength of the thread part (thread + tip) was higher than the shank part (shank + shank cutter). In compared with the directions to the grain of red pine, the bearing strength of the cross section parallel to the loading direction was the highest, and the tangent section was the lowest bearing strength. The average bearing strength of the loading direction in parallel to the grain was 23.43 MPa, which was about 45% higher than the average 16.16 MPa in perpendicular to the grain. The predicted bearing strength calculated by Eurocode (EN) and Korean Building Code (KBC)’s equation was lower than the experimental value. It is nessesary to propose the new equations of bearing strength reflected the configuration information of STS.