Evaluating Design of Mortise and Tenon Furniture Joints Under Bending Loads by Lower Tolerance

Abstract

This study aimed to estimate the design value for mortise and tenon joints. In this respect, the design value for static load tests was determined using lower tolerance limit methods. A lower tolerance limit value at 0.99/0.99 confidence/proportional level was chosen as a design value (199.05 N.m) to secure higher joint reliability in a furniture frame. A side frame of a simple wooden chair was theoretically analyzed to obtain internal forces acting on joints, whereas the load of 1000 N was applied in the vertical direction on the top of the front leg. A full-frame chair with mortise and tenon joints would not be overstressed when a chair is under static load while not exceeding 2000 N. By applying this method, all chairs should survive static load up to 2000 N. While performing cyclic front-to-back load test, all tested chairs met the American Library Association requirements for light-duty service load, specified for household chairs. This study demonstrates that a joint failure could be prevented under expected loads specified by the standard if the joint design value is known.