Untersuchungen an traditionellen Holzverbindungen - Der abgestirnte Zapfen

Investigation on traditional carpentry joints - The tapered tenon.

Traditional carpentry joints with tapered tenons had been used widely in traditional timber structures in middle Europe to connect two structural parts under compression loads, that concur in a somehow diagonal angle. When a change of use is required or when damages are obviously, then an analytical model is needed to prove the structural safety. Experimental investigations were accomplished and an analytical model was developed for this type of joinery. Three types of failure were considered - rolling shear failure, failure of the front side and failure of the bottom face. The influence of friction was observed and determined. Because of the good accordance of the experimental and the analytical results it can be recommended to use the model for structural calculations on tapered tenon joints. The design-steps are documented and explained. A practical example for the calculation is given.