Influence of Joints on the Seismic Response of Traditional Timber Frames in Turkey

Timber frame structures which constitute an important cultural heritage of many countries, are well known as efficient seismic resistant structures worldwide and are worth to be preserved. Hımış is one common traditional Turkish timber system, which consists of a simple timber frame filled with masonry (such as bricks, adobes or stones with mortar), and a masonry ground floor, built on continuous stone foundations. These buildings are usually located in seismic areas. This study aims to make a review of the structural performance of Hımış timber system under seismic loading, with specific emphasis on joints and following strengthening of joints with CFRP (Carbon fiber reinforced polymer). Due to the seismic demands these timber structures mostly depend on connections, so that the joints have to be evaluated accurately in terms of translational and rotational stiffness and moment resistance. Subsequently, a series of experimental tests on two different types of timber joints (lap joint and mortise-tenon) which are common in Turkish timber structures have been carried out under monotonic bending loading. The numerical analysis, FEM (the finite element method) has been performed in order to calibrate the results from experiments. Finally, a numerical analysis considering semi-rigid joints in traditional timber connections has been performed globally.