Rotational stiffness in timber joinery connections: Analytical and experimental characterizations of the Nuki joint
Author(s)
Fang, Demi L.; Mueller, Caitlin T; Brütting, Jan; Fivet, Corentin; Moradei, Julieta
DownloadAccepted version (848.0Kb)
Open Access Policy
Open Access Policy
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike
Terms of use
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Historic timber structures feature timber joinery connections that use interlocking geometries rather than fasteners. While timber construction since has gradually favored metallic fasteners, the longevity of historic timber structures utilizing joinery connections demonstrates their feasibility in structural systems and potential to enable sustainable constructions. Advancements in digital fabrication imply the ability to revitalize these complex geometries in competition with conventional fasteners. However, characterization of the mechanical behavior of joinery connections remains to be calibrated across analytical, experimental, and numerical models, let alone systematized across different geometric variations. This research examines the calibration between analytical models and experimental tests for the Nuki joint, a simple beam-through-mortised-column joinery connection. This paper shows that general elastoplastic behavior matches between models, and the analytical model can be calibrated to predict initial stiffnesses within 20% of those determined experimentally. Mismatches between models reveal challenges in calibrating across models: material irregularity of wood and fabrication tolerances.
Date issued
2019Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Architecture; Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Building Technology ProgramJournal
Structures and Architecture: Bridging the Gap and Crossing Borders - Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Structures and Architecture, ICSA 2019
Publisher
CRC Press
Citation
Fang, DL, Mueller, CT, Brütting, J, Fivet, C and Moradei, J. 2019. "Rotational stiffness in timber joinery connections: Analytical and experimental characterizations of the nuki joint." Structures and Architecture: Bridging the Gap and Crossing Borders - Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Structures and Architecture, ICSA 2019.
Version: Author's final manuscript