| Abstrakt: |
The use of timber in construction and the use of traditional timber joineries in Southern India had been profound in the early sixteenth to eighteenth century. However, the lack of research in early timber structures and wooden joineries makes this study relevant for the field of timber research and for engineers working in repair and rehabilitation of heritage structures. This study attempts to improve the knowledge in modelling timber and to understand the structural behaviour of some of the unique scarf joineries identified at Padmanabhapuram palace, Thuckalay, Tamil Nadu. Experimental tests on clear wood samples were performed prior to proper material characterization and modelling of the indigenous teak wood in ABAQUS FEA software. Site observations indicated that the scarf joints were placed strategically at areas of minimum stress. So, to obtain the maximum strength carrying capacity of the joints, it is analysed under the most critical load case-pure bending condition. The results obtained show that the geometry of the joints—angle of splay, lap length, dimensions, grooves and notches—influences the stiffness of the joints under static load conditions. This research work will be fundamental for future studies to understand the effect of change in geometry on the stiffness and stability of the joints and its scientific principle behind the use of such early designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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