Advanced Steel Construction

Vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 448-457 (2025)

 SEISMIC PERFORMANCE OF PU-PAI FANG-DOVETAIL TENON JOINTS WITH

VARYING LOOSENING DEGREES REINFORCED BY STEEL SLEEVE CLAMP HOOPS

 

Sen-Long Tan 1, Yun-Peng Chu 1, Yao-Peng Liu 2, *, Jia-Hao Wang 1, Si-Qi Wang 1, Zheng Zhang 3 and Bo Si 4

1 School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China

2 School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China

3 Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200092, China

4 Beijing Building Construction Research Institute, Beijing 10039, China

*(Corresponding author: E-mail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Received: 15 June 2025; Revised: 28 July 2025; Accepted: 11 August 2025

 

DOI:10.18057/IJASC.2025.21.5.7

 

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ABSTRACT

The Pu–pai Fang-dovetail tenon joint, an enhanced form of the traditional dovetail joint, is commonly used at beam-column connections in traditional beam-lifting timber structures. However, long-term environmental exposure and seismic loading often lead to wood shrinkage and joint loosening, reducing structural integrity. This study proposes a reinforcement method for Pu-pai Fang–dovetail tenon joints with varying degrees of looseness using steel sleeve clamp hoops. Quasi-static tests were conducted on one intact specimen and three specimens with different looseness levels to examine their failure modes and seismic behavior. Results indicate that tenon pull-out in the reinforced joints causes tearing of wood fibers at the mortise and Pu‑pai Fang, yet the flexural capacity continues to increase without exhibiting a descending branch. The energy dissipation capacity and stiffness degrade rapidly at first and then stabilize. Compared with unreinforced joints, the reinforced specimens exhibited a lower tenon extraction rate and higher ultimate flexural capacity. A finite element model was subsequently developed, showing good agreement with the experimental results. Parametric analysis revealed that selecting an appropriate friction coefficient (0.3–0.5) and clamp-hoop thickness (5–7mm) can effectively improve the seismic performance of Pu-pai Fang–dovetail tenon joints.

 

KEYWORDS

Ancient timber buildings, Pu-pai Fang-Dovetail tenon joints, Loosening degrees, Quasi-static test, Parametric analysis

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