Analysis, Design, and Performance Testing of a Gate-Leg Table

Authors

  • Eva Haviarova
  • Carl A. Eckelman
  • Pavol Joscak

Keywords:

Gate-leg table, joint test, performance test, structural analysis

Abstract

Gate-leg tables behave differently from conventional tables and have not been studied extensively. To determine the distribution of moments in the main and side frames, structural analyses were conducted on a gate-leg table under different loading scenarios. Potential weak construction points were identified. Back-to-front load performance tests of the tables constructed with mortise-and-tenon and dowel joints were performed and compared. Results show that the strength of mortise-and-tenon joints is superior to the strength of dowel joints. The tables constructed with mortise-and-tenon joints would be ranked just below the "medium-duty" performance level, whereas tables constructed with dowel joints would be ranked just above "light-duty." Strength of dowel joints was closely related to the length of the dowels. Finally, ultimate strength tests were conducted on undamaged joints cut from the frames following the performance testing to determine their in-plane, out-of-plane, and torsional moment capacities. Substantially higher values were obtained for the mortise-and-tenon joints.

References

Eckelman CA (1977) Evaluating the Strength of Library Chairs and Tables. Monograph. Library Technology Reports 23(4):341-433. American Library Association. Chicago.n

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Published

2008-04-25

Issue

Number 2 / April 2008

Section

Research Contributions

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