Search Results (43)

Wood finger joints are widely used in both structural timber and high-quality furniture due to their ability to create long, continuous members from shorter pieces. The mechanical performance of these joints depends not only on the wood species but also on the geometry of the interlocking teeth and the quality of the adhesive bond. This study explores how the geometry of finger joints affects the tensile behavior and fracture characteristics of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and oak (Quercus robur L.). Specimens with varying tooth dimensions were tested using a 50 kN universal testing machine from Shimadzu. Key metrics such as ultimate tensile load, effective cross-sectional area, cohesive stress, energy required to cause failure, and fracture energy (G_c) at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mm displacements were systematically measured. The results revealed that beech specimens achieved ultimate tensile loads up to 21,320 N and cohesive stress of 204 MPa, while oak reached 21,631 N with a cohesive stress of 239 MPa. Fracture energy (G_c) values ranged from 0.036 N/mm for beech to 0.051 N/mm for oak, depending on joint geometry. Results show that both the type of wood and the tooth design, including width and length, play a decisive role in joint performance. In general, longer teeth and larger bonded areas improved tensile capacity and increased resistance to fracture. These findings offer deeper insights into the fracture mechanics of hardwood finger joints and provide practical guidance for optimizing glued connections in furniture and structural timber. The collected data can also support accurate modeling, quality assurance, and numerical simulations in future studies. Full article

Quantitative data on the bending capacity and rotational stiffness of corner joints made from acrylic solid-surface PMMA/ATH composites are limited, despite their widespread use in furniture and interior components. The study provides comparative bending moment and rotational-stiffness benchmarks for 18 PMMA/ATH corner-joint series, using a stiffness-evaluation procedure tailored to corner-joint testing. L-type joints produced from two commercial PMMA/ATH materials (Kerrock and Corian) at 6- and 12-mm thickness were manufactured in 18 configurations, including glued butt, 45° mitre, reinforced mitre, rebate, groove variants, and detachable Minifix eccentric and Lamello Clamex connectors. Specimens were tested under arm-compression bending and maximum bending moment (M_max), and joint rotational stiffness was derived. The best-glued solution was the 12 mm Kerrock 45° mitre with M_max 186.21 N·m, whereas the strongest 6 mm joint reached 40 N·m. Reinforcing the 12 mm Kerrock mitre joint increased stiffness to 9521 N·m/rad but did not increase bending capacity relative to the non-reinforced mitre. Detachable joints formed a clearly distinct low-rigidity class with bending moments of 2.22–3.89 N·m and stiffness below 194 N·m/rad. Overall, thickness and joint geometry dominate both strength and stiffness, and the tested detachable connectors should be reserved for applications requiring disassembly rather than for load-bearing corners. Full article

To address the high incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) at manual edge-banding workstations in furniture factories, and in an effort to tackle the existing research challenges of poor cumulative risk quantification and inconsistent evaluations, this paper proposes a three-stage system for continuous, automated, non-invasive WMSD risk monitoring. First, MediaPipe 0.10.11 is used to extract 33 key joint coordinates, compute seven types of joint angles, and resolve missing joint data, ensuring biomechanical data integrity for subsequent analysis. Second, joint angles are converted into graded parameters via RULA, REBA, and OWAS criteria, enabling automatic calculation of posture risk scores and grades. Third, an Adaptive Pooling Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory Network (LSTM) dual-branch hybrid model based on the Efficient Channel Attention (ECA) mechanism is built, which takes nine-dimensional features as the input to predict expert-rated fatigue states. For validation, 32 experienced female workers performed manual edge-banding tasks, with smartphones capturing videos of the eight work steps to ensure authentic and representative data. The results show the following findings: (1) system ratings strongly correlate with expert evaluations, verifying its validity for posture risk assessment; (2) the hybrid model successfully captures the complex mapping of expert-derived fatigue patterns, outperforming standalone CNN and LSTM models in fatigue prediction—by integrating CNN-based spatial feature extraction and LSTM-based temporal analysis—and accurately maps fatigue indexes while generating intervention recommendations. This study addresses the limitations of traditional manual evaluations (e.g., subjectivity, poor temporal resolution, and inability to capture cumulative risk), providing an engineered solution for WMSD prevention at these workstations and serving as a technical reference for occupational health management in labor-intensive industries. Full article

To advance “bamboo-as-plastic-substitute” initiatives and the sustainable use of furniture materials, this study investigates flattened bamboo sheets by determining their principal-direction elastic constants and evaluating two common furniture T-joints—dowel-jointed panel-type and right-angle mortise-and-tenon frame-type—through tensile and bending load-bearing tests alongside finite element (FE) comparisons. The results show a pronounced anisotropy, with the longitudinal elastic modulus markedly higher than in other directions. At the joint level, the average ultimate load-bearing capacities were 4.06 kN (panel-type tension), 3.70 kN (frame-type tension), 0.264 kN (panel-type bending), and 0.589 kN (frame-type bending). Under identical structural configurations and boundary conditions, the tensile and bending capacities of flattened bamboo sheets were comparable to or exceeded those of the comparator materials (MDF, cherry wood, bamboo-based composites), and failures predominantly occurred in the adhesive layer rather than the bamboo substrate. Across four representative cases, FE predictions achieved a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 6.5% with a maximum relative error of 12.5%; the regression correlation was R² ≈ 0.999 based on four paired observations, which should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size. The study validates that FE models driven by experimentally measured anisotropic parameters can effectively reproduce the mechanical response of flattened bamboo T-joints, providing a basis for structural design, lightweighting, and parameter optimization in furniture applications. Further work should characterize adhesive systems, environmental durability, and interfacial failure mechanisms to enhance the model’s general applicability. Full article

End-users can design personalized furnishing products using remote web-based CAD systems. However, if these designs fail to incorporate design for disassembly (DfD) principles, the furniture’s subsequent repair, reconfiguration, recycling, and disposal can be significantly hindered. To address this drawback, this study supports DfD, a strategy that enables the creation of easily repairable, reusable, and recyclable furniture to reduce waste and environmental impact. Consequently, this review aims to classify and evaluate available furniture joinery systems for their suitability within DfD frameworks, ultimately promoting their implementation within CAD environments. To this end, various solutions were evaluated, including traditional joints, dowel/biscuit, hammered, directly screwed, snap-on, expandable, and cam/bolt fasteners. Based on a literature review and practical observations, the analyzed joinery systems were categorized into non-disassemblable, conditionally disassemblable, and fully disassemblable categories. Only the fully disassemblable solutions effectively align with DfD principles. The study postulates a preference for expandable and cam/bolt fasteners in furniture designs, noting that although snap-on fasteners can potentially support DfD, this outcome is not always ensured. To guarantee that the designed furniture adheres to the DfD principles, the following eight furniture design guidelines were formulated: develop web-accessible disassembly instructions, prioritize access to fast-wearing components, prioritize modularity, standardize parts in modules, label components, enable independent component removal, use materials that withstand repeated disassembly, and employ fully disassemblable joints. Full article

This study compared two groups of furniture joints, i.e., a so-called ready-to-assemble (RTA) plastic biscuit joint from Lamello©, while the second group consists of four types of eccentric joints with beech dowels. L-shaped specimens were prepared with the help of the selected joints and a three-layer particleboard with dimensions of 150 × 150 × 400 mm. These L-shaped specimens were tested for bending moment capacity under compression and under tension. Cam joints with wooden dowels can withstand high stress. If Lamello© Bisco P-15 joints are added to the plastic Clamex P-14 joint, this joint will achieve 13% higher values for bending moment capacity under compression and 22% under tension. During testing, the worst result was achieved by the Tenso P-14 joint. The best values achieved during the testing of bending moment capacity under compression and under tension were for an eccentric joint with the use of a metal-capped bolt and Euro screw. This joint achieved 147% higher values for bending moment capacity under compression than a standard eccentric joint with a euro screw bolt and 213% higher values for bending moment capacity under compression than the Lamello© and Clamex P-14 joints. This study aimed to determine how the joints differ, how they behave during testing, and what deformations occur. Full article

This study employs the finite element method to propose a model-based design strategy for upholstered furniture frames. Three-dimensional discrete models of these frames were created, considering the orthotropic characteristics of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and spruce (Picea abies L.) wood, reinforced structurally with glue joints and upholstery staples. The modelling process utilised the CAE system Autodesk Inventor Nastran, applying the finite element method (FEM). Static analyses were performed by simulating standard loading conditions. The calculations incorporated the stiffness coefficients of the frame’s comb joint connections. The findings illustrate the stress distribution, displacements, and equivalent strains within the furniture frame models. The deformation and strength parameters of the frames introduce a novel perspective on designing upholstered furniture structures using the component-based FEM approach. These outcomes are applicable to the development of upholstered furniture designs. Full article

The present paper investigates the possibility of replacing the traditional L-type corner joint used in chair construction with a 3D printed connector, manufactured using the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) method and black PLA as filament. The connector was designed to assemble the legs with seat rails and stretchers, and it was tested under diagonal tensile and compression loads. Its performance was compared to that of the traditional mortise-and-tenon joint. Stresses and displacements of the jointed members with connector were analyzed using non-linear Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis. Both connector and mortise-and-tenon joint were employed to build chair prototypes made from beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.). Digital Image Correlation (DIC) method was used to analyze the displacements in the vicinity of the jointed members of the chairs. Seat and backrest static load tests were carried out in order to verify if the chairs withstand standard loading requirements. Results indicated that the 3D printed connector exhibited equivalent mechanical performance as the traditional joint. The recorded displacement values of the chair with 3D-printed connectors were higher than those of the traditional chair reaching 0.6 mm on the X-axis and 1.1 mm on the Y-axis, without any failures under a maximum vertical load of approximately 15 kN applied to the seat. However, it successfully withstood the loads for seating and backrest standard tests, in accordance with EN 1728:2012, without any structural failure. This paper presents a new approach for the chair manufacturing sector, with potential applicability to other types of furniture. Full article

University dormitories are vital spaces for students’ daily lives and informal learning, and require desks and chairs of utmost comfort. This study evaluates the desks and chairs at F University using Jack 8.01 software to optimize ergonomic design. By simulating three common sitting postures, this research identifies key issues, such as posture-related strain and limited reachability, particularly for female users. The optimized design introduces adjustable desk height (440~840 mm), chair height (250~520 mm), and tilt angle (0~60°), resulting in a 14.3% and 51.9% improvement in hip and knee joint comfort for the 5th percentile of female users, respectively, and effectively avoids the health risks caused by poor sitting posture. At the same time, based on the universal design concept, the design considerations for non-normative people are introduced. From the perspective of environmental sustainability, fewer wood-based panels used in the improved desk can reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint by approximately 135 kg CO₂ e. These enhancements highlight the critical role of digital human modeling (DHM) in developing ergonomic, “people-centered” furniture that promotes healthier and more effective learning environments, as well as the sustainable development of educational facilities. Future work will validate these findings in real-world settings and explore their applications across educational and professional spaces. Full article

In tasks such as wood defect repair and the production of high-end wooden furniture, ensuring the consistency of the texture in repaired or jointed areas is crucial. This paper proposes the WTSM-SiameseNet model for wood-texture-similarity matching and introduces several improvements to address the issues present in traditional methods. First, to address the issue that fixed receptive fields cannot adapt to textures of different sizes, a multi-receptive field fusion feature extraction network was designed. This allows the model to autonomously select the optimal receptive field, enhancing its flexibility and accuracy when handling wood textures at different scales. Secondly, the interdependencies between layers in traditional serial attention mechanisms limit performance. To address this, a concurrent attention mechanism was designed, which reduces interlayer interference by using a dual-stream parallel structure that enhances the ability to capture features. Furthermore, to overcome the issues of existing feature fusion methods that disrupt spatial structure and lack interpretability, this study proposes a feature fusion method based on feature correlation. This approach not only preserves the spatial structure of texture features but also improves the interpretability and stability of the fused features and the model. Finally, by introducing depthwise separable convolutions, the issue of a large number of model parameters is addressed, significantly improving training efficiency while maintaining model performance. Experiments were conducted using a wood texture similarity dataset consisting of 7588 image pairs. The results show that WTSM-SiameseNet achieved an accuracy of 96.67% on the test set, representing a 12.91% improvement in accuracy and a 14.21% improvement in precision compared to the pre-improved SiameseNet. Compared to CS-SiameseNet, accuracy increased by 2.86%, and precision improved by 6.58%. Full article

Corner joints and edge banding are essential components that significantly impact the strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal of particleboard furniture. This review examines the critical role of edge banding in enhancing the performance of corner joints, which are fundamental to the overall quality of panel furniture. A targeted literature search was conducted across key databases, including the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS CC), Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on scientific resources in the technical and biotechnical sciences. The selection of joint types, materials, and construction methods can substantially influence both the structural integrity and visual design of the furniture. Well-designed corner joints improve durability and longevity by ensuring that furniture can withstand various forces and loads without failure or deformation. These joints enhance the aesthetics of furniture by providing seamless and visually appealing connections between different elements. Edge banding is vital for reinforcing corner joint strength, as different materials exhibit varying degrees of resistance to impact, scratches, and abrasion, thereby safeguarding furniture surfaces. Also, edge banding contributes to the furniture’s longevity, ensuring durability during use as well as through disassembly and transport during remodeling or relocation. This review aims to consolidate existing knowledge and establish parameters for future research on the quality and performance of corner joints and edge bands in particleboard furniture. Full article

The strength properties of softwood components with bonded joints reinforced with fasteners were investigated and compared. Initial tests of the strength of the glue joints were carried out, with a change in the type of adhesive used. The application method significantly influenced the shear strength of the joint. With the adhesive and pre-bonding systems used, the shear strength of the adhesive joint of pine wood (Pinus silvestris L.) with PUR and PVAC resin was determined. The industrial results were 31% lower than in the shear test of the wooden joint bonded with PVAC glue. In terms of transverse shear force with staples, the joint has a transverse holding force that is higher than components connected with screws or nails. As the number of glue sticks increased, the shear strength of the pine wood increased. The strengths of the joined components in the glue roller method had an intermediate value. They did not differ significantly between the two-row gluing systems used. An increase in the force required to shear the bonded joint was observed for the different adhesive systems, the fasteners used, and their density. Full article

This study experimentally investigated the effects of selected factors on the bending moment capacity (BMC) of case furniture joints. The main aim was to explore mixed applications of wood-based materials and fasteners in manufacturing case furniture to reduce material costs. The study examined the effects of the face member material—particle board (PB), plywood (PL), and block board (BB)—edge member material (PB, PL, and BB), and joint shape (T-shape and L-shape) on BMC. Additionally, the study evaluated the effects of joint type (two eccentrics (TE), two dowels (TD), and one eccentric and one dowel (ED)), and material type (PB, PL, and BB) on BMC for L-shaped joints. The results showed that joint shape and face member material significantly affected the BMC of case furniture joint. The BMCs of T-shaped joints were significantly greater than those of L-shaped joints, regardless of the material of the face and edge members, except when the face member was made of PL. For L-shaped joints with PL face members, the BMCs were significantly higher compared to others. Joints constructed with TE exhibited significantly higher BMC compared to ED and TD for the same material type. For PB, TE joints exhibited an increase of approximately 3.0 Nm and 2.0 Nm compared to TD and ED, respectively. For PL, TE showed an increase of 9.1 Nm and 4.1 Nm compared to ED and TD, respectively. For BB, the increases were 7.0 Nm and 6.6 Nm compared to ED and TD. The BMC of joints made with PL and constructed with TE and ED was significantly greater than those of BB, followed by PB. However, for joints assembled with TD, there was no significant difference among the three materials. The ratios of BMC for joints constructed with ED compared to the half-sum of TE and TD were 0.73, 1.04, and 0.79 for PB, PL, and BB, respectively. These results suggest that the face member material predominantly influences the BMC of case furniture joints, indicating the potential to reduce costs by combining different materials and joint types. Full article

In recent years, 3D printing technology has become very important in many fields of science, manufacturing, design, medicine, aviation, sports, etc. Furniture design and manufacturing are also not left out of this trend. In this study, the results of bending moments and stiffness of joints of thin structural elements connected by 3D printing with polylactic acid (PLA) connectors are given. The connectors are newly developed, and information on their strength characteristics is lacking in the literature. Ten joints were investigated, made with 9 and 12 mm plywood and 6 mm MDF. The tested joints constructed by 3D-printed connecting elements show a high strength under arm compression bending load, between 44.16 and 24.02 N·m. The stiffness coefficients of joints with 3D-printed connecting elements are between 348 and 145 N·m/rad and are higher than those of conventional detachable mitre joints but lower than those of glued ones. The type of filling of the hollow section of the connecting elements and the wall thickness influenced the joints’ strength and stiffness. Reducing the width of the connecting elements from 40 to 30 mm and the inner radius between the arms from 2 to 1 mm does not significantly affect the joints’ strength and stiffness coefficients. Full article

The dimensions of tenons in solid wood furniture significantly influence the mechanical performance of mortise and tenon joints. While previous studies have primarily focused on tenon length, width, and thickness, they often overlooked the impact of clearance between the mortise and tenon. This study investigates the effects of tenon length, tenon width, and clearance on the mechanical performance of mortise and tenon joints, aiming to enhance their bending moment capacity (BMC) and stiffness. A three-factor, three-level orthogonal test was conducted, utilizing range analysis and variance analysis to assess the effects of each factor on BMC and stiffness. The LSD post hoc test was employed to identify significant differences between levels of the same factor, and nonlinear regression analysis was used to fit the experimental results. Based on orthogonal experiment outcomes, a grey relational theory-based evaluation system was developed to assess the comprehensive performance of joints, including both moment capacity and stiffness. Results indicate that tenon length has the most significant effect on BMC, followed by clearance and tenon width, while clearance has the greatest impact on stiffness, followed by tenon length and tenon width. These findings are consistent with those obtained from grey relational analysis. When considering both BMC and stiffness as a comprehensive evaluation, the optimal combination is a tenon length of 40 mm, a tenon width of 35 mm, and a clearance of −0.1 mm. This study offers valuable insights for the rational design of mortise and tenon joints, contributing to improved performance and reduced manufacturing costs. Full article