Investigating the bending strength of wooden pin in H-shaped joints in MDF

Aim of this study were to examine the effects of pin diameter (6, 8 and 10 millimeter), the pins interval (30,50 and 70 millimeter), wooden pin penetration depth (2d,3d and 4d D=Diameter of pin) and the shape of H joint on bending strength of the joint. In order to make the H joints, the dimension of the middle member was selected as 200x125x16 millimeter and the dimension of the side members were selected as 250x125x16 millimeter. MDF was used to make the joints. The wooden pin used in the present research was made from hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) which is common pin in the market. PVA glue was used to make pin joints. Twenty seven treatments were obtained out of various combinations of the variables and considering four replication for each treatment, 108 H-shaped samples were prepared. The bending strength of the joints was measured. The results from mechanical test indicated that for each pin penetration depths in H joint, increasing the distance between pins, the bending strength decreased. Maximum bending strength was related to the pins having diameter of 10 millimeter. In 4d penetration depth, for each three diameters of 6, 8 and 10 millimeter, the maximum bending strength was reached on 30 millimeter intervals. The minimum bending strength for the pin having 6 millimeter diameter was obtained in the interval of 10 millimeter. The same results were obtained for the 2d and 3d penetration depths.