Connections in Large Timber Beams Free-Form Structures (original) (raw)

Improvement of the Connections in Timber Structures in Theory and Practice

Zbornik radova Građevinskog fakulteta, 2019

Connections between timber structural elements are realized, usually with different steel jointing devices, which are installed in combination with specially shaped steel elements in accordance with certain theoretical settings and calculations. In the case of solid timber (C) or glued laminated timber (GL) constructions of large spans, there is a important consumption of steel for making connections between the elements of the primary and secondary structures. In this paper we give a brief overview of the development and improvement of modern models and methods of calculating connections in timber structures, through examples of original design solutions that have achieved the savings of connecting means in relation to the classic way of forming connections between timber elements. These solutions are followed by the need for high quality of glued laminated timber beams production and precision finishing.

Understanding timber structural connection systems

The strength and stability of any timber structure depends heavily on the connections between the structural members. One prime advantage of wood as a structural material is the ease with which wooden structural parts can be joined together, using a wide variety of connecting systems. This chapter discusses how the characteristics of timber as an engineering material affect the performance and hence design of connection in timber structures.

A Calculation Method for Interconnected Timber Elements Using Wood-Wood Connections

Buildings, 2020

Wood-wood connections, widely used in the past, have been progressively replaced by steel fasteners in timber constructions. Currently, they can be manufactured and implemented more efficiently thanks to digital fabrication techniques. In addition, with the emergence of new timber plate engineered products, digitally produced wood-wood connections have been developed with a strong focus on complex free-form geometries. The gained knowledge through research and building implementations have pushed the development of more standardized structural elements. As a result, this work presents a new concept of building components using through tenon connections based on the idea of transportable flat-packs directly delivered and assembled on site. The main objective of this research is to develop a convenient calculation model for practice that can capture the semi-rigid behavior of the connections and predict the effective bending stiffness of such structural elements. A case study is used ...

Timber Structures 3.0 - New Technology for multi-axial, slim, high performance timber structures; Proceedings of the World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE 2016); World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE 2016)

2016

Until today, all known timber building systems allow only slabs with a uniaxial load bearing action. Thereby, in comparison to normal reinforced concrete slabs, timber slabs are often thick, expensive and complicated to build. The reason for this is that there is no efficient connection technology to rigidly connect timber slab elements to each other. Alternative solutions are hybrid structural systems with concrete or steel, however, this combination of materials results in some disadvantages especially in terms of weight, ecology, construction time and costs. In the framework of a large research project a new timber slab system has been developed and already tested in first real applications. The developed slab system is designed for housing, commercial and industrial buildings. The slab system works as a flat slab carrying vertical loads biaxial and consists of timber slab elements like CLT glued together on site with a high performance butt-joint bonding technology. Research abo...

Structural Systems of Timber Buildings

Green Energy and Technology, 2013

The current chapter presents a set of main aspects of timber building with a focus on timber-frame constructions. A brief description of timber's material characteristics in Sect. 3.1 aims at getting acquainted with potential advantages and disadvantages of planning and designing timber buildings, in comparison with using other structural materials, such as concrete or masonry. Section 3.2 discusses predominantly used structural systems of timber construction along with the most important structural and technological characteristics and possibilities. Section 3.3 describes computational models and methods, with their limitations and application in practice. The influence of the sheathing material and the openings studied in our previous numerical and experimental research is additionally shortly presented in order to provide a better insight into a rather problematic area of applying the glazing to timber buildings, which is the main contents part of Chap. 4. Multi-storey prefabricated timber building is one of the increasing opportunities for the public, commercial and residential sectors in the future. Stability problems appearing due to heavy horizontal actions along with possible strengthening solutions already applied in practice are the topic of Sect. 3.4. 3.1 Timber as a Building Material Timber is a live organisms' product and thus a natural material exposed to parasites and bacteria. Alternate exposure to humidity makes timber unsustainable while its organic structure accounts for its inhomogeneity, which is a rather negative construction-related feature. Another specific area is timber's fire resistance, a highly specific problem to which a more detailed approach follows further in this chapter. The three characteristics mentioned above are said to be the main drawbacks of using timber in construction. However, the listed disadvantages can

Development of space truss systems in timber

2004

Space trusses are a valuable structural form for architects and structural engineers due mainly to their efficiency in providing large unobstructed areas, associated with faster erection speeds and low maintenance cost. Most space trusses are made of steel and aluminium whilst a few are of timber. Interest is now shifting from the traditional use of timber in plane trusses of relatively short span, to new structural forms for medium to long spans. In adopting such systems in timber for non-traditional roofing applications, the challenge lies in developing structurally sound, visually neat and economically reproducible connectors for 3-dimensional configurations of timber members. The research aimed at developing a new connector for double and triple-layer space grids in timber, intended for medium-span lightweight roofing applications. The origins of the connector date back to 1995, when it was first proposed by Zingoni as the 14FTC-U Timber Space-Truss Connector, and subsequently t...

Design of timber structures 2

This is the first UK edition of Design of timber structures Volume 1, Structural aspects of timber construction published in 2015. Rules and standards change in pace with the development of society, hence a publication of this type needs to be reviewed regularly. Contrary to earlier English editions, the current version is not adapted to the Swedish national choices in Eurocode 1995. Instead, the original Eurocode 1995 is referred to, in order to simplify adaptation to different national parameters in the country using the book.

Design of timber structures 1-3

Design of timber structures, 2022

This is the first UK edition of Design of timber structures Volume 1, Structural aspects of timber construction published in 2015. Rules and standards change in pace with the development of society, hence a publication of this type needs to be reviewed regularly. Contrary to earlier English editions, the current version is not adapted to the Swedish national choices in Eurocode 1995. Instead, the original Eurocode 1995 is referred to, in order to simplify adaptation to different national parameters in the country using the book. https://www.swedishwood.com/publications/list\_of\_swedish\_woods\_publications/design-of-timber-structures/

Timber as a Structural Material 1.1 INTRODUCTION

Timber from well-managed forests is one of the most sustainable resources available and it is one of the oldest known materials used in construction. It has a very high strength to weight ratio, is capable of transferring both tension and compression forces, and is naturally suitable as a flexural member. Timber is a material that is used for a variety of structural forms such as beams, columns, trusses, girders, and is also used in building systems such as piles, deck members, railway sleepers and in formwork for concrete. There are a number of inherent characteristics that make timber an ideal construction material. These include its high strength to weight ratio, its impressive record for durability and performance and good insulating properties against heat and sound. Timber also benefits from its natural growth characteristics such as grain patterns, colours and its availability in many species, sizes and shapes that make it a remarkably versatile and an aesthetically pleasing material. Timber can easily be shaped and connected using nails, screws, bolts and dowels or adhesively bonded together. The limitations in maximum cross-sectional dimensions and lengths of solid sawn timbers, due to available log sizes and natural defects, are overcome by the recent developments in composite and engineered wood products. Finger jointing and various lamination techniques have enabled timbers (elements and systems) of uniform and high quality in any shape, form and size to be constructed; being only limited by the manufacturing and/or transportation boundaries. Timber structures can be highly durable when properly treated, detailed and built. Examples of this are seen in many historic buildings all around the world. Timber structures can easily be reshaped or altered, and if damaged they can be repaired. Extensive research over the past few decades has resulted in comprehensive information on material properties of timber and its reconstituted and engineered products and their effects on structural design and service performance. Centuries of experience of use of timber in buildings has shown us the safe methods of construction, connection details and design limitations. This chapter provides a brief description of the engineering properties of timber that are of interest to design engineers and architects, and it highlights that, unlike some structural materials such as steel or concrete, the properties of timber are very sensitive to environmental conditions; for example moisture content, which has a direct effect on the strength and stiffness, swelling or shrinkage of timber. A proper understanding of the physical characteristics of timber enables the building of safe and durable timber structures.