Reports

Tension joinery research results are available from the work done by Dick Schmidt and Rob MacKay, and sponsored by the University of Wyoming and the Timber Frame Business Council. Rob explains, "I hope this will be useful to some people. Insomniacs might really benefit from a report such as this."

Abstract

Timber-frame connections use hardwood pegs to hold the main member (tenon) within the mortise. Design of these connections is currently beyond the scope of building codes and the National Design Specification for Wood Construction (NDS). The objective of this research is to determine the feasibility of the yield model approach for the design of these connections. The research includes a study of the mechanical properties of the pegs used in mortise and tenon tension connections. Properties of interest include the peg’s flexural yield strength, the dowel bearing strength of a peg as it loads the frame material, and the peg's shear strength. The results of this research show that the existing yield model equations from the NDS are applicable to hardwood pegs used as dowel fasteners in mortise and tenon connections. However, additional yield models specific to these connections are needed.