Experimental Study on the Traditional Timber Mortise-Tenon Joints

Abstract

The inverted-trapezoid sectioned dovetail (ITSD) mortise-tenon joint was popular during the Chinese Song Dynasty. To investigate the particular features of the ancient wood joint, three 1:4 scaled models of a double-span timber frame with two exterior joints and an interior joint were fabricated according to the construction method commonly used in Chinese traditional wood structures, and tested subjected to fully reversed cyclic loading. Investigated were the mechanical properties of the ITSD mortise-tenon joints such as the connection stiffness and flexibility, hysteretic model and the relationship between the bending moment and relative rotation (i.e. the M-θ′ model). The constitutive parameters of the Kishi-Chen M-θ′ model for ITSD mortise-tenon joints were calibrated using statistical fitting methods. Besides, an assumption applicable to the connection type (e.g. pinned, semi-rigid or rigid joint) at a given connection bending-moment level was suggested with respect to practical engineering purposes. Furthermore, the M-θ′ model obtained for ITSD mortis-tenon joints was incorporated into the commercial software SAP2000, and the experimental hysteretic curves obtained for the three scaled specimens were compared with the curves obtained using finite element method (FEM), it was found that the M-θ′ model validated by this study was applicable to the ITSD mortise-tenon joint.

Analysis of the Residual Deformation of Yingxian Wood Pagoda

“…e evaluation of the ultimate deformation capacity of wooden structures requires the use of test results. Although some test results have been reported in the literature [22][23][24], Yingxian Wood Pagoda requires the use of transplantation analysis of the results. ese areas will be studied in future repair research work.…”

The Influence of the Damage of Mortise-Tenon Joint on the Cyclic Performance of the Traditional Chinese Timber Frame

“…Shi et al [5] used a synchronous loading technique to study the hysteresis behavior of a full-scale Chinese timber structure and revealed the effects of vertical loads and gaps in the mortise-tenon joint. Some tests on the timber frame with straight mortise-tenon joints [6,7] or with dovetail joints [8][9][10][11] have been conducted and the pulling-out of the tenon were frequently observed. Zhang [12] studied the seismic and lateral resistance of column-and-tie wooden buildings, the global slip of the framework and the slip of the column footing were observed.…”

Seismic Performance of Damaged Dovetail Joints with Different Damaged Degrees in Timber Frames

“…ese characteristics have typically been exhibited through lateral loading tests of timber frames incorporating mortise and tenon joints [9][10][11][12][13], in which a vertical load is applied to the top of the columns to simulate a gravity load, and a lateral cyclic load is applied by a horizontal actuator using displacement control. In these tests, the hysteresis curves obtained have been relatively full, and the joints have displayed good deformation and energy dissipation ability.…”

“…In these tests, the hysteresis curves obtained have been relatively full, and the joints have displayed good deformation and energy dissipation ability. Generally, the failure mode of mortise and tenon joints has been found to be the pullout failure of the tenon [11][12][13].…”