Effects of glass–fiber composite, dowel, and minifix fasteners on the failure load of corner joints in particleboard case-type furniture

In this study, effects of fasteners on the failure loads of L-type corner joints in laminated particleboard (LPB) case-type furniture have been analyzed experimentally and statistically. Glass–fiber composite (fabric), dowel, and minifix as fasteners and glass–fiber composite (C), dowel (D), dowel + fabric (DC), dowel + minifix (DM), and dowel + minifix + fabric (DMC) as joint type are used in this study. Tests were carried out according to ASTM Standards. Results show that the failure load takes its highest value in the DMC case for both average values of the test results and for 95% reliability under Weibull distribution. On the other hand, it takes its lowest value in the D case for compression test and in the C case for tension test. In addition, the 95% reliability values for each corner joint configuration are approximately equivalent to the 0.52 average value of the failure load.