EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON TRADITIONAL JOINT OF COLUMN AND PENETRATING BEAM Structural Behavior Assessment of Butsuden and Hatto of Kenchoji-Temple Part 1

This study aims to clarify the structural performance of two typical Japanese traditional timber joints used in Kenchoji-temple in Kamakura, Japan. The frame consisting of column and penetrating beam is one of the most important structural elements of traditional wooden structures. More often, there is a connecting joint of the beam, which penetrates through the column. Therefore the shape of the joint is hidden inside the column, not visibly apparent. For this reason, we operated X-ray inspection of the column and penetrating beam, on-site. Through this result we were able to estimate the shape of joint. Bending test of the joint was performed on models of the joints. The results of the bending tests of the connecting joints were compared with those without connecting joint inside the column. Consequently, it was possible to understand the difference between the strength of the each joint by the above results.