To support the transition to a bio-based society, it is preferable to substitute metallic fasteners and adhesives in timber construction with an eco-friendly alternative. Recent studies have identified compressed wood dowels and plates as a possible substitute for metallic fasteners in contemporary and mainstream applications. In this study, a spliced beam-beam connection system using compressed wood dowels and slotted-in compressed wood plates was examined under four-point bending. The study has considered specimens with compressed wood dowels of 10 mm diameter and compressed wood plates of 10 mm thickness. The load carrying capacity of connections using compressed wood dowels and plates were compared to connections utilising steel dowels and plates of equivalent capacity. Typical failure modes, moment resistance and rotational stiffness of both connection systems are evaluated on the basis of the experimental results. Tests have demonstrated similar failure modes when comparing steel-timber and compressed wood-timber connection systems. The mean failure load for the compressed wood-timber connection system is only 20.3% less than that achieved for the steel-timber connection system. The mean rotational stiffness of the compressed wood-timber connection system is 18.55% less than that achieved for the steel-timber connection system. These preliminary results demonstrate the potential for the use of compressed wood elements in the manufacture of timber connections.
