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Component Method for Historical Timber Joints

Article · January 2000

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-010-0950-8_36

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 417

COMPONENT METHOD FOR HISTORICAL TIMBER JOINTS

F. WALD, J. MAREŠ, Z. SOKOL

Czech Technical University, Department of Steel Structures
166 29 Praha, Czech Republic, http://cihla.fsv.cvut.cz/~wald/

M. DRDÁCKÝ
Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Academy
of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prosecká 76, 190 00 Praha 9,
Czech Republic, drdacky@itam.cas.cz

1. Introduction

Timber structures represent one of the most important ancient engineering works
spanning over considerable distances. They involve not only an evidence of structural
knowledge and creativity of their makers but also a good deal of structural beauty,
Figure 1.
When studying historical timber roofing frames we have to deal with several
problems. Firstly, the roofing frameworks have passed a long way of development of
their structural schemes and improvements of their layout. Secondly, the development
of roofing frameworks and also building frames was accompanied by changes in joints
and their structural behaviour [1]. Let us start our short study with remarks concerning
typical structural carpentry joints and their load – deformation behaviour as it was
acquired by experiments.

Figure 1 The joint configuration of a frame of the Castle Horní Branná [1]
 418

2. Experiments

Three sets of tests were performed to simulate the behaviour of historical timber joint –
experiments of a component of the joint (test of timber in compression), tests of replica
of historical carpenter joint and test of authentic historical joint taken from the
reconstructed structure, see Figure 2. The experiments with replicas were carried out on
specimens made from several hundred years old timber.

Moment, kNm
2
1
0
-1
-
F
-2
+
-3
45°
-4
-5
-6
-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
Rotation, degrees
Figure 2 Example of moment rotational diagram of test H-4-45

After the experiments with the joints were finished, material characteristics were
determined by tests on coupons taken from the joint assemblies. The evaluated material
properties were modulus of elasticity in bending, in compression parallel to fibres and
an indentation response to the concentrated load introduced by narrow wooden or steel
indenters, see Figure 3.

Force, kN
10
9
Steel to wood
8
Wood to wood
7
6 Steel or wooden indenter
5 15
4
3 40
2 Prediction, see [2] 40
1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Indetation, mm
Figure 3 Comparison of indent tests, steel to wood and wood to wood

Modulus of elasticity in four-point bending varied from 11,53 GPa to

25,91 GPa. Modulus of elasticity in compression varied from 12,47 GPa to 17,35 GPa
 419

and the compression strength between 35 and 57,1 MPa. Typical indentation test
results are presented on Figure 3. The dashed line shows a literature reference [2]. As a
conclusion to the test we can state the response depends on the direction of annual rings
and it can be approximated by a bilinear function. Tension tests proved tension strength
parallel to fibres between 74 MPa and 170 MPa and modulus of elasticity from
11,2 GPa to 16,2 GPa, (at moisture content of about 9%).All tests were carried out
under moderate temperature of about 15°C and moisture content of about 11%.
The test results show rather good quality of ancient wood, which has been
experienced several times by other researchers. Nevertheless, the degradation can
reduce material characteristics substantially and influence computational modelling.

3. Mechanical model of joints

The component method was applied to the joint to derive simple model of joint
behaviour subjected to static and cyclic loading, see [2]. The joint is decomposed into
components, which are represented by force - deformation diagram, see Figure 3. It is
supposed the dowel resists to shear force and clearly fixes the position of the centre of
rotation of the connection.

0,3 k 3.ekv
k 1.ekv
z ekv z ekv
k 1.ekv
k 2.ekv k 2.ekv

Figure 4 The contact surfaces and the component model

for loading in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions

Finite element simulation was performed to verify assumptions about contact

areas of the tested connections, see Figure 5. The model was created from two bodies
(8-noded SOLID 45 elements, 5307 nodes) connected by point to surface
CONTACT 49 elements. Initial gap 2 mm was used to simulate initial slip in the
connection.
Principal stresses for clockwise loading are plotted on the surface as contour
lines to show compression stresses of the studied connection.
 420

a)

b)

c)
Figure 5 The finite element model, a) the mesh, b) the contact elements ,
c) isolines of compression stress

3.1. Component Timber in Compression

The presented connection is composed from the one type of component only –timber in
compression. The resistance of the material in compression with respect to the direction
ß of fibres of the wood is
f c,0 ,d
f c,? ,d ? . (1)
f c,0 ,d
sin 2 ? ? cos 2 ?
f c,90 ,d

The resistance of the component Fu.i can be derived from area in compression Ai .
Fu .i ? Ai f c ,? ,d . (2)

Stiffness of this component is calculated on basis of theory of deformation of

elastic half space.

L
heq Aeff
h ar

Figure 6 Deformation of a timber block on surface zone

The deformed zone in the joint can be predicted using concept of effective
height. The deformation of the block under a rectangular rigid plate was solved by
several authors. Solution by Lambert and Whitman [3] gives deformation
Fc ? ar
?c? , (3)
E? Ar

where Fc is the applied compressed force, ar is width of the rigid plate, E? is the
Young's modulus of wood, Ar is area of the plate, L is length of the plate, see Figure 6.
 421

The factor ? depends on ratio between L and ar and on Poison's ratio ? of the material.
The value of the factor and ? was calculated with ? = 0,09, see Table 1. The table also
gives an approximation of the factor ? .

Table1 Factor ?
L Factor ? according to Approximation
Lambert and Whitman [3]
ar ? ? 0 ,80 L / ar
1 0,88 0,85
1,5 1,09 1,04
2 1,23 1,20
3 1,45 1,47
5 1,73 1,90
10 2,14 2,69

The formula (3) describing the displacement under the plate can be simplified by
substituting approximate formula for ? from Table 1
0 ,80 Fc
?c? (4)
E? L ar

The stiffness of the component expressed in form suitable for component method gives

Fc E? L ar
kc ? ? (5)
E90 ? c 0 ,80 E90

3.2. Assembly for monotonous loading

The assembly procedure of the components into behaviour of the joint is based on
geometry of the connection and properties of the components see [4]. The bending
moment resistance is given by

Mu ? ? Fu .i zi (6)
i

The initial bending stiffness can be calculated from stiffness of the components
2
M E z ekv
Sj ? ? , (7)
?
? ki .ekv
1
i

where the components in series should be replaced by a single spring with stiffness ki
1 1 1
? ? . (8)
ki ki .1 ki .2
 422

The stiffness ki.1 and ki.2 belong to components representing two contact surfaces with
different fibre orientation and therefore with different stiffness.

The effective stiffness of the components ki.eff takes into account elastic force
distribution of components in parallel configuration

?
1
zi
ki
ki .ekv ? i
(9)
zekv

where
? ki zi 2
z ekv ? i
. (10)
? ki zi
i

The predicted behaviour of the joint is compared to experiment H-4-45, see Figure 7.

4 M, kNm
155
2 125
Experiment
128
-80 -60 -40 -20 20 40 60
? ??mrad
-2 45°
Prediction -4

-6 155

-8 130 45
pin

Figure 7 Comparison of the model to experimental results of the second

loading step and geometry of the connection (test H-4-45)

3.3. Assembly for cyclic loading

Two major types of components can be distinguished, see Figure 8. One directional
component represents the contact between two surfaces. The component resists in
compression, but offers no resistance in tension. The other type is two directional
component. It represents behaviour of components resisting in tension and
compression, i.e. plate or bolt.
 423

Force Force

Deformation Deformation

Figure 8 Basic types of the component behaviour;

a) one directional (contact), b) two directional

The component method is extended to simple model for cyclic loading. The
model consists from one directional component only. When the character of the
bending moment changes, the other components are taken into account, see Figure 4.
The resistance Fu.i and the initial stiffness ki of the components are based on the above
prediction. Response of the components is described by a non-linear curve. The loading
branch of force-displacement curve is replaced by power function see [5],
Fi 1
?i? n
, (11)
E? ki ? F ?
1 ? ?? i ??
? Fu .i ?
where shape factor n = 4,5 is based on experimental results. The unloading branch is
linear with unloading ratio defined by Penserini [5]. The value of ? = 0, 82 is based on
observations of the test results of this component.
The step-by-step procedure was applied to calculate the moment-rotation
curve of the joint. Because of the non-linear nature an iterative procedure was
necessary. Only last two steps were used for convergence check at every load step.
Moment, kNm
2
1
0
-1 Behaviour predicted
by component model
-2
-3
-4
Behaviour observed by experiment
-5
-6
-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
Rotation, degrees
Figure 9 Comparison of the predicted model for cyclic loading to the moment-
rotation diagram of the joint H-4-45, starting point at rotation -0,5°

The model exhibits a good agreement to the joint behaviour see Figure 9.
However, the model is less accurate than sophisticated curve fitting procedures [6] and
[7]. The method is limited to connections with small number of precisely defined
components [8].
 424

4. Conclusion

The presented results of study oriented to modelling of response of historic timber

joints approved the necessity to investigate the influence of deformability of classical
carpentry connections [9]. Their rigidity in general sense plays an important role in
computation of the global deformation and force distribution of historic roofing frames.
Those computations are necessary for prediction of behaviour of historic structures
during reconstruction works or in cases of assessment of their safety and remaining
life.

5. Acknowledgement

This work has been supported by the grant No. 107/97/S051 by Grant Agency of Czech
Republic and by the grant of Czech Ministry of Education No. MŠM 21 000 000 4.

6. References

1 Drdácký M. F., Wald F. and Mareš J. (1999) Modelling of real historic timber
joints, v Proceedings of the STREMAH 99 Sixth International Conference
Structural Studies of Historical Buildings, Dresden, pp. 169 - 178, ISBN
1 853 12 690 X.
2 Vergne, A. (1998) Testing and modelling of load carrying behaviour of timber
joints, in Proceedings of International Conference Control of Semi-Rigid
Behaviour of Civil Engineering Structural Connections, Liege, p. 4-4.
3 Lambert, T. W. & Whitman, R. V., Soil Mechanics, MIT, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
New York, 1969.
4 Leiten A., Ragupathy P. and Virdi, K. S. (1995) Rotation capacity of semi-rigid
joints in timber frames, in Proceedings of Second State-of-the-Art Workshop
COST C1 Semi-Rigid Behaviour of Civil Engineering Structural Connections, ed.
F. Wald, Brussels, pp. 335 - 376.
5 Penserini, P. (1991) Caracterisation et modelisation du comportement des liasons
structure metallique-fondation, These de doctorat de l`Universite Paris 6, E.N.S.
de Cachan - C.N.R.S. - Université Pierre et Marie Currie, p. 254.
6 Mazzolani, F.M. (1988) Mathematical Model for Semi-Rigid Joints Under Cyclic
Loads, in Connections in Steel Structures: Behaviour, Strength and Design, ed. R.
Bjorhovde et al., Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, London, pp. 112 - 120.
7 Ermopoulos J., Stamatopoulos J., Wald, F. and Sokol Z. (1997) Mathematical
Modelling of Semi-Rigid Connections in Steel Column-Bases under Cyclic
Loading, Research report, CZ-GR Gr. No. 5/95, Athens, p. 33.
8 De Martino, A., Faella, C. and Mazzolani, F. M. (1984) Simulation of Beam-to-
Column Joint Behaviour Under Cyclic Loads. Construzioni Metalliche, 6,
pp. 346 - 356.
9 Drdácký, M., Wald, F. and Sokol, Z. (1999) Sensitivity of historic timber structures
to their joint response, Proceedings of the 40th Anniversary Congress of the IASS,
Madrid.

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