The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanical behavior of tenon and mortise wood joints used in traditional Taiwanese wood structures by cyclic loading and lateral loading. The maximum moment and rotational stiffness (K) were defined as the joint strength. Experimental results revealed that the M(subscript max) and K values of the ”through tenon” (CT) were greater than those of the ”straight tenon” (CH) and ”stepped dovetail tenon” (CS), mainly because of the longer tenon length of the CT. The average M(subscript max) and K values among the various joints showed the following trend: CT>CS+(direction of the joint against the external force)>CH>CS-(direction of the wood block in the joint against the external force). In comparisons of the average M(subscript max) and K values of CH specimens, the average M(subscript max) value for CT specimens was 350% higher, whereas the average K value was 320% higher (calculated by the 2-point-slope method). The strength of the CS which is the common joint resisting lateral forces was stronger than that of the CH with the same tenon length. It was also found that the K value increased with an increase in M(subscript max).
The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanical behavior of tenon and mortise wood joints used in traditional Taiwanese wood structures by cyclic loading and lateral loading. The maximum moment and rotational stiffness (K) were defined as the joint strength. Experimental results revealed that the M(subscript max) and K values of the ”through tenon” (CT) were greater than those of the ”straight tenon” (CH) and ”stepped dovetail tenon” (CS), mainly because of the longer tenon length of the CT. The average M(subscript max) and K values among the various joints showed the following trend: CT>CS+(direction of the joint against the external force)>CH>CS-(direction of the wood block in the joint against the external force). In comparisons of the average M(subscript max) and K values of CH specimens, the average M(subscript max) value for CT specimens was 350% higher, whereas the average K value was 320% higher (calculated by the 2-point-slope method). The strength of the CS which is the common joint resisting lateral forces was stronger than that of the CH with the same tenon length. It was also found that the K value increased with an increase in M(subscript max).