Mortise-tenon joints are critical components of traditional timber frames, maintaining structural integrity and seismic resistance during earthquakes. This paper investigates the analysis model of hysteresis curves for the straight tenon joint commonly used in timber frames. The joint’s damage characteristics and stiffness degradation performances are summarized based on experimental results. The critical lines and mechanical formula of hysteresis analysis are determined, and a whole-process hysteresis model is constructed. The skeleton curve of this model comprises a gap, elastic, plastic, and failure parts. The basic framework for the hysteresis process under an earthquake is formed by loading, unloading, and sliding return curves. The model determines the deformation and force of mortise-tenon components in the compression zone according to the constitutive relationship of wood and introduces strength degradation to describe the cyclic strength and stiffness degradation during the hysteresis process. This approach reasonably reflects the seismic performance and damage characteristics of straight-tenon joints. By comparing the hysteresis curves and experimental results, it is demonstrated that the proposed model can represent the mechanical performance and energy dissipation characteristics well and is suitable for the seismic analysis of straight tenon joints.
Song et al. (Fri,) studied this question.