Mechanical performance of mortise and tenon joints pre-reinforced with slot-in bamboo scrimber plates

Guofang Wu,Meng Gong,Yingchun Gong,Yong Zhong,Haiqing Ren

doi:10.1186/s10086-019-1816-2

Abstract

This study was aimed at examining the mechanical performance of mortise and tenon joints reinforced with slot-in bamboo scrimber plates. 27 full-scale specimens were manufactured with engineered wood and bamboo products using computer numerically controlled (CNC) technology, then they were tested under monotonic loading. The initial stiffness and moment carrying capacity of joints with different reinforcing configurations were obtained from the established moment–rotational angle relationships. It was found that the initial stiffness of the reinforced mortise and tenon joints increased by 11.4 to 91.8% and the moment carrying capacity increased by 13.5 to 41.7%, respectively. The total width and grain orientation of the reinforcing plates had significant influence on the mechanical performance of the mortise and tenon joints. Fastening the plates to tenon with dowels was beneficial to the mechanical performance of the joints. The embedment length and adhesive type had no significant influence to the structural performance of the joints. This study demonstrated the feasibility of pre-reinforcing mortise and tenon joints in new timber construction, and could assist to promote the application of mortise and tenon joints in modern timber structures.

Highlights

A mortise and tenon joint consists of a tongue that inserts into a mortise cut in the mating piece of timber
It should be noted that in practice the rotational angle of mortise and tenon joints could not generally exceed 0.1 rad, at which the horizontal drift of a 3-m-high column could reach about 300 mm
The coefficient of variation (COV) of the initial stiffness of the mortise and tenon joints with bamboo scrimber plates placed in parallel to the tenon was lower than that of joints with

Summary

Introduction

A mortise and tenon joint consists of a tongue that inserts into a mortise cut in the mating piece of timber. The mortise and tenon joint was once thought inappropriate in the construction of modern timber structures. With the round timber being replaced by modern engineered wood products like gluelaminated timber (glulam), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), etc., the dimension is more accurate, and the mechanical performance of the joint is more reliable. This joinery method is reviving in wood construction industry [5] and has been used in timber structures like heavy timber buildings again [6]. It is believed that mortise and tenon joint will play an important role in modern industrialized timber structures

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