Determination of the Strength of Various Sofa Frames with Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

In this study, the strength properties of glued-dowel joined sofa frames constructed of solid wood and wood based composite materials were investigated. Furthermore, the place of the stretcher was optimized in the side frame of the sofa. Scotch pine (Pinus Sylvestris Lipsky) and Turkish beech (Fagus Orientalis Lipsky) were used as solid wood materials. Oriented strandboard (OSB), okoume (Aucoumea klaineana pierre) plywood (PLY) and medium density fiberboard (MDF) were used as wood composites. Specimens were tested under static load according to the principles of TS 9215 by applying both seat and backrest loads which the sofa can be imposed upon in service. The finite element method was utilized for analyzing the sofa frames. As a result, it has been observed that the three dimensional structural analysis by means of the finite element method gives reasonable estimates of the overall strength performances of the sofa frames. Furthermore; it was concluded that the wood composite materials could be used instead of solid wood materials in the production of the frame construction furniture, especially in the upholstered seating furniture frames.