The paper gives a state-of-the-art report on splitting of beams loaded perpendicular to grain by connections. Special emphasis is placed on simple analytical models based on fracture mechanics. A new simple model is presented, existing models are reviewed and relations between the models are shown, and an existing model is generalized in a semi-empirical manner. The treatment of the splitting problem in some timber design codes is also reviewed, new test results are presented, and the models and design codes are discussed.