Performance assessment of through-tenon timber joints under tension loads

This paper aims to characterize the force-deformation response of through-tenon wood-wood connections subjected to tensile loads. Four beech LVL timber specimen groups with variations in the fiber orientation, and the tab insertion angle (45°, and 60°) are tested. All of the specimens experienced a brittle failure mode. The 45°-angled specimens provide a more secure interlocking mechanism compared to the 60°-angled specimens. Overall, fiber-parallel 60°-angled specimens have the highest yield and ultimate strengths. Increasing the insertion angle from 45° to 60° decreases the ductility and slip modulus. Changing the fiber orientation from parallel to perpendicular does not have a significant effect on the slip modulus and ductility, however, there is a decrease in the yield and ultimate strengths. Finally, based on the overall results from the experiments, the joints are classified as having low ductility.