Review on the mechanical models and formulations of embedment of traditional timber joints in Japan

This paper reviews recent developments of the mechanical models and formulations for the embedment of traditional timber joints in Japan. In recent decades in Japan, seismic performance evaluation methods of traditional timber buildings have been actively researched, and useful findings have been obtained to evaluate the seismic performances of traditional timber buildings such as temples, shrines, and dwelling houses. The major seismic resisting elements of traditional timber buildings in Japan are restoring forces of thick column rocking, rotational resistances of column‐beam joints, and shear resistances of mud/wood walls. Among them, the restoring force of rotational resistances of column‐beam joints due to embedment plays an important role. Such restoring force characteristics depend primarily on the partial compression on continua. However, the partial compression on continua is difficult to analyze owing to the continua. In relation to the partial compression on continua, research results of beams on elastic foundations are reviewed. Subsequently, the recent developments of mechanical models and formulations of the traditional timber joints in Japan are reviewed and problems related to formulations are discussed, and the authors' comments are given.