I mitt examensarbete jämför jag styrkan för sammanfogningar i trämöbler med fasta tappar och centrumtappar utifrån fem parametrar: tappens dimensioner, tappens inpassning, tappens komprimering, tappens antal och tappens limning. Den övergripande frågan har varit, ”är fasta tappar eller centrumtappar starkast?” Målet har varit att sålla i olika teorier rörande dessa två typer av sammanfogningar och skapa ett underlag i syfte att hjälpa möbelsnickare och formgivare att kunna ta medvetna beslut vad gäller sina val av dessa typer av sammanfogningar. Genom litteraturstudier och verkstads besök har jag samlat kunskap som ligger till grund för det hållfasthets test jag sedan gjort i materiallabbet på Linköpings universitet. Testet har utgått från ett scenario där en stols bakben ska fogas samman med en sarg. Testet visar, utifrån ett antal angivna avgränsningar, att fasta tappar utan undantag är starkare än centrumtappar.Det visar också att en dubbel fast tapp fördelar belastningen bättre än en enkel fast tapp och bidrar till en betydligt starkare fog. För c-tappar gäller generellt att ökat antal tappar ökar fogens seghet men inte nödvändigtvis maxbelastningen. Inpassning och komprimering har betydelse för hur seg en fog är. / I have in my thesis compared the strength of mortise and tenon joints and dowel joints in wooden furniture. I´ve made the comparison based on five parameters: the dimensions of the tenon or dowel, the fit of the tenon or dowel, the compression of the tenon or dowel, the number of tenons or dowels and the gluing of the tenon or dowel. The bigger question has been, “is the mortise and tenon joint or the dowel joint the strongest?” The goal has been to go through different theories regarding these two types of joinery and making a foundation to help cabinet makers and designers to make conscious decisions regarding their choices of these two types of joinery. Through studies of literature and visiting workshops I´ve gathered knowledge that lies as a foundation for a test of strength of different joinery made in the material testing facility of Linköping University. The test was based on a scenario of joining the back leg and side rim of a chair. The test shows, from the given definitions, that mortise and tenon joints are without exceptions stronger than dowel joints. It also shows that double tenons better will distribute the load and make for a stronger and tougher joint. Dowel joints will get tougher with an increased number of dowels but it will not necessarily make for a stronger joint. The fit and compression of the tenon or dowel will affect the joints strength.

The governing set of regulations for structural engineering in Sweden used to be Boverket, BKR. However in the beginning of the 21st century a changeover to new regulations, the Eurocodes, started. The transition was completed in year 2011 when the Eurocodes became the mandatory design work policy for all countries within the European Union. The Eurocodes were implemented to simplify and remove potential barriers to trade that may exist when countries have different design rules.  Since the changeover it has been important for all construction companies to update their knowledge base and their design software. When comparing the two calculation processes they seem similar, but there are a couple of differences worth noting.  With the new regulations, engineers will find that the process when designing joints in timber structures has changed.  What used to be a fairly easy and straight forward calculation procedure has now become tedious and time consuming. The objective of this degree project is to present a product, a dimensioning tool that will help structural engineers when computing lateral load carrying joints in timber structures. The degree project is made up of two parts where the first part is the written report describing the background and theory behind load carrying computations. The second part of the project is the actual dimensioning tool which includes several worksheets in Microsoft Excel. The program treats single and double shear connections of the following: Nail joints Screw joints Steel plates (thick and thin types)  The user can edit the following parameters: Type of plate/ number of shears Strength class of timber members Member and plate size Type of fastener Diameter of fastener Length of fastener Yield moment of fastener kmod and partial factors for design load carrying capacity The dimensioning tool was created and developed in collaboration with structural engineers at the company Byggteknik AB. By request, a results documentation sheet was developed with intended use for project presentations and project reviews.