This paper presents experimental and numerical results from embedment tests carried out accordingly the EN383 standard. The experimental program included series of compressive embedment tests, along the parallel and perpendicular-to-grain directions. The specimens were manufactured with maritime pine wood and were loaded using a steel dowel. The load-displacement curves resulted from experimental tests allowed to estimate the embedding strength and the foundation modulus. Concerning the numerical simulations, a plasticity model, based on Hill's criterion, was used to simulate the mechanical behaviour observed in the embedment tests. The wood was modelled as an orthotropic material following an elasto-plastic behaviour. The steel dowel was considered isotropic material and modelled with elastic behaviour. Besides, the interaction between both materials was modelled using contact finite elements. A parametric study to evaluate the influence of dowel/wood clearance and different friction coefficients was performed. The proposed 3D finite element model showed the capability to simulate the non-linear behaviour observed in the experimental embedment tests. An experimental/numerical procedure for the identification of constitutive models aiming the simulation of ductile behaviour of wood was presented. This is particularly important to simulate the mechanical behaviour of doweled joints. © 2015 Sociedade Portuguesa de Materiais (SPM). Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.