Mechanical Behaviour of Traditional Timber Carpentry Joints in Service Conditions – Results of Monotonic Tests

The structural safety assessment of ancient timber structures requires the evaluation of the mechanical properties of their elements and joints. As Building Codes focus mainly in common modern industrialized joints [1], they usually provide little guidance to designers regarding traditional timber carpentry joints, being necessary to establish reliable behaviour models, set detailing rules and provide useful recommendations for future rehabilitation or strengthening interventions in timber structures. Carpentry joints connect timber elements, usually subjected to compressive axial loads, often without any other devices but notches in the connected members. These joints rely on the compression internal forces to keep facing surfaces in close contact and seldom in metal fasteners (more common in Western cultures than in Oriental joint craft [2]). A widespread classic connection at the heel joint in timber trusses is the front notche