Normal contact performance of mortise and tenon joint: theoretical analysis and numerical simulation

This article aims to investigate the contact characteristics of mortise and tenon (M&T) joints in the traditional timber structures. In particular, the normal embedded compressive contact between contact surfaces of M&T joint was investigated. Based on basic contact theory and contact characteristics between mortise and tenon, a normal elasto-plastic contact model, which can reflect the real normal contact behavior of M&T joints in traditional wooden structures, was proposed. Coulomb friction contact was utilized to describe the tangential slipping characteristics of the contact surfaces. Micro-morphology scanning tests of wood samples with different roughness were carried out to determine the parameters involved in the normal contact model. The normal contact model subroutine of M&T joint was compiled by FORTRAN language, implemented into ABAQUS through user-defined interface (UINTER). Then the proposed model was verified by shear tests of wood contact surfaces considering different normal pressures. Finally, a finite element model (FEM) of straight tenon joint subjected to cyclic reversed loading, based on the proposed normal elasto-plastic contact model, was developed, and a FEM considering normal “hard contact” between the contact surfaces, was also performed. The simulation results were validated by the experimental results. Results showed that the user-defined normal elasto-plastic contact FEM was more in line with the actual force state and mechanical behavior of M&T joints, which can more accurately predict the failure modes and simulate the hysteretic behavior of M&T joints, compared to the FEM considering normal “hard contact” of the contact surfaces.