1. Wen-Ching SU and Yiren WANG* Effect of Hygroscopic Swelling on Push Load of Wood Dowel Joint Dept. of Forest Products Science National Chiayi University Chiayi Taiwan

2. Dowel joints have been commonly used in furniture due to its ease of assembly. When the joints are exposed to humidity change, the circular shape of dowel and hole would change and result in a new stress state. Objectives: 1. effect of hygroscopic swelling on push load 2. stress states

4. Result ANOVA table （ a ） （ b ） Distributions of normal stress of maple dowel after hygroscopic swelling; (a) quarter sawn member with 0° ring angle; (b) flat sawn member with 90° ring angle.

5. Conclusions 1. The push load was higher after hydroscopic swelling. 2. The push loads of specimens with 90° ring angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of hole member were higher than those with 0° and 45° ring angle. 3. The push load of quartersawn hole member was higher than that of flatsawn hole member. 4. Deformations of wood due to moisture change could be accurately predicated by finite element method in cooperation with orthotropic material properties. 5. The difference between the predicted push loads of simplified dowel joints by finite element method and the measured ones were between -5.29% to 11.72%.