<p>Wind loads acting on wooden building structures need to be dealt with adequately in order to ensure that neither the serviceability limit state nor the ultimate limit state is exceeded. For the structural designer of tall buildings, avoiding the possibly serious consequences of heavy wind loading while taking account at the same time of the effects of gravitation can be a real challenge. Wind loads are usually no major problem for low buildings, such as one- to two-storey timber structures involving ordinary walls made by nailing or screwing sheets of various types to the frame, but when taller structures are designed and built, serious problems may arise.</p><p>Since wind speed and thus wind pressure increases with height above the ground and the shear forces transmitted by the walls increase accordingly, storey by storey, considerable efforts can be needed to handle the strong horizontal shear forces that are exerted on the bottom floor in particular. The strong uplift forces that can develop on the wind side of a structure are yet another matter that can be critical. Accordingly, a structure needs to be anchored to the substrate or to the ground by connections that are properly designed. Since the calculated uplift forces depend very much upon the models employed, the choice of models and simplifications in the analysis that are undertaken also need to be considered carefully.</p><p>The present licentiate thesis addresses questions of how wind loads acting on multi-storey timber buildings can be best dealt with and calculated for in the structural design of such buildings. The conventional use of sheathing either nailed or screwed to a timber framework is considered, together with other methods of stabilizing timber structures. Alternative ways of using solid timber elements for stabilization are also of special interest.</p><p>The finite element method was employed in simulating the structural behaviour of stabilizing units. A study was carried out of walls in which sheathing was nailed onto a timber frame. Different structural levels were involved, extending from modelling the performance of a single fastener and of the connection of the sheathing to frame, to the use of models of this sort for studying the overall structural behaviour of wall elements that possess a stabilizing function. The results of models used for simulating different load cases for walls agreed reasonably well with experimental test results. The structural properties of the fasteners binding the sheathing to the frame, as well as of the connections between the members of the frame were shown to have a strong effect on the simulated behaviour of shear wall units.</p><p>Regarding solid wall panels, it was concluded that walls with a high level of both stiffness and strength can be produced by use of such panels, and also that the connections between the solid wall panels can be designed in such a way that the shear forces involved are effectively transmitted from one panel to the next.</p>

The EN Eurocodes are a new series of standards for construction design in Europe. The development of these codes started originally in 1975 and in present time the progressing work is at the national calibration stage. The goal is to create a common standard for the design of buildings and other civil engineering works throughout Europe and beyond. The purpose is to increase the free circulation of construction products and engineering services. Since the transition to the new standards is getting closer, the constructing engineers and companies will soon stand before great changes. This is why Kadesjös Ingenjörsbyrå AB asked me to do an analysis of the first part of the new standard, i.e. Eurocode 1990, and look at the differences among the existing standards in Sweden and the Eurocodes. The result of this is summarized not only in the report but also in a “User’s manual” which is presented in appendix 1 attached to the report. A limited study of the environmental effects of the transition to Eurocode EN 1990 has also been done. By comparing design calculations of a normal beam in three different materials, steel, concrete and glued laminated timber, one can, for instance, get a general view of how the differences of the two standards affect the required quantity of material. To get an insight of the different opinions that might exist concerning the new standard, a survey based on interviews of a few constructional engineers has been done. There was also discussed if any, and in that case what kind of preparations constructors and design companies are performing to be well prepared when the transition comes.

Engineered timber products are becoming increasingly popular in the construction industry due to their attractive aesthetic and sustainability credentials. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is one such engineered timber product, formed of multiple layers of timber planks glued together with adjacent layers perpendicular to each other. Unlike traditional building materials such as steel and concrete, the timber structural elements can ignite and burn when exposed to fire, and thus this risk must be explicitly addressed during design. Current design guidance focusses on the structural response of engineered timber, with the flammability risk typically addressed by encapsulation of any structural timber elements with the intention of preventing their involvement in a fire. Exposed structural timber elements may act as an additional fuel load, and this risk must be adequately quantified to satisfy the intent of the building regulations in that the structure does not continue burning. This can be achieved through timber’s natural capacity to auto-extinguish when the external heat source is removed or sufficiently reduced. To address these issues, a fundamental understanding of auto-extinction and the conditions necessary to achieve it in real fire scenarios is needed. Bench-scale flammability studies were undertaken in the Fire Propagation Apparatus to explore the conditions under which auto-extinction will occur. Critical conditions were determined experimentally as a mass loss rate of 3.48 ± 0.31 g/m2s, or an incident heat flux of ~30 kW/m2. Mass loss rate was identified as the better criterion, as critical heat flux was shown by comparison with literature data to be heavily dependent on apparatus. Subsequently, full-scale compartment fire experiments with exposed timber surfaces were performed to determine if auto-extinction could be achieved in real fire scenarios. It was demonstrated that auto-extinction could be achieved in a compartment fire scenario, but only if significant delamination of the engineered timber product could be prevented. A full-scale compartment fire experiment with an exposed back wall and ceiling achieved auto-extinction after around 21 minutes, at which point no significant delamination of the first lamella had been observed. Experiments with an exposed back and side wall, and experiments with an exposed back wall, side wall, and ceiling underwent sustained burning due to repeated delamination, and an increased quantity of exposed timber respectively. Firepoint theory was used to predict the mass loss rate as a function of external heat flux and heat losses, and was successfully applied to the bench-scale experiments. This approach was then extended to the full-scale compartment fire experiment which achieved auto-extinction. A simplified approach based on experimentally obtained internal temperature fields was able to predict auto-extinction if delamination had not occurred – predicting an extinction time of 20-21 minutes. This demonstrates that the critical mass loss rate of 3.48 ± 0.31 g/m2s determined from bench-scale experiments was valid for application to full-scale compartment fire experiments. This was further explored through a series of reduced-scale compartment fire experiments, demonstrating that auto-extinction can only reliably be achieved if burnout of the compartment fuel load is achieved before significant delamination of the outer lamella takes place. The quantification of the auto-extinction phenomena and their applicability to full-scale compartment fires explored herein thus allows greater understanding of the effects of exposed timber surfaces on compartment fire dynamics.

Este trabalho teve como finalidade o estudo da aplicação de um adesivo alternativo para a fabricação de madeira laminada colada (MLC). Este adesivo, à base de óleo de mamona, apresenta vantagens em relação ao tradicionalmente utilizado, considerando aspectos ecológicos e econômicos. Foram determinados parâmetros adequados para a colagem, e avaliada a compatibilidade entre adesivo e o tratamento com o preservativo hidrossolúvel de Arseniato de Cobre Cromatado (CCA - tipo C) e em madeiras sem o tratamento preservativo, em termos de resistência da linha da cola, por meio dos ensaios de cisalhamento, de tração normal e de tração paralela às fibras, usando a espécie Pinus caribea hondurensis. Com estes parâmetros, foram confeccionadas 12 vigas de MLC, utilizando-se as espécies de reflorestamento Pinus caribea hondurensis e Eucaliptus grandis. Foi avaliado o desempenho estrutural das vigas de MLC, por intermédio do ensaio mecânico de resistência à flexão, objetivando-se analisar a resistência da linha de cola. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir o bom desempenho do adesivo poliuretano à base de mamona, para a aplicação em madeira não preservada e preservada com OCA tipo-C. A pressão de colagem indicada para laminação das vigas é 0,8% MPa para madeira não tratada, e 1,6 MPa para madeira tratada. Para a fabricação das emendas das lâminas recomenda-se a pressão de colagem igual a MPa, para madeira tratada ou não. / The aim of this work is the study of the use of alternative adhesive for glued laminated timber (GLULAM). This adhesive, based on castor oil, presents ecological and economical advantages in relation of traditionally used. The appropriate parameters for gluing were determined and the compatibility between this adhesive and treatment with the waterbome preservative of chromated copper arsenate (CCA-C) were evaluated through shear tests and tensions tests (perpendicular and parallel to the grain), using the species Pinus caribea hondurensis. With these parameters, were made 12 beams of GLULAM; using the species Pinus caribea hondurensis and Eucaliptus grandis. The structural performance of the beams of GLULAM was evaluated through static bending tests. The results obtained allow concluding the good performance of the adhesive polyurethane based on castor oil, for use in wood not preserved and preserved with CCA type-C. The gluing pressures indicated are 0,8 MPa for non-treated wood, and 1,6 MPa for treated wood. The gluing pressure recommended for finger-joints is 9 MPa, for treated wood or not.

Une étude de faisabilité de poutres en bois lamellé-collé a été menée en Guyane Française en utilisant les essences locales. Le but est de déterminer les paramètres de collage assurant la bonne résistance mécanique des assemblages par lamellation et par aboutage, nécessaires à la fabrication de poutres en bois lamellé-collé en climat tropical. Trois essences de bois abondantes de différentes densités ont été sélectionnées. Les adhésifs de types Mélamine-Urée-Formol et Résorcinol-Phénol-Formol ont été utilisées. Les paramètres de collage considérés sont : le grammage, le temps d’assemblage fermé et la pression.En utilisant les normes Européennes, plusieurs campagnes de tests ont été conduites sur des échantillons normalisés. Concernant le collage par lamellation, des tests élémentaires de délamination et de cisaillement des joints de colle ont été réalisés. Le test de délamination consiste en deux cycles d’immersion dans l’eau sous pression et de séchage, il induit de sévères variations d’humidité du bois susceptibles de créer des ouvertures des joints de colles. Le collage par aboutage est réalisé sur des poutres normalisées aboutées. Les entures sont obtenues grâce à un outillage standard communément utilisé pour les résineux. Les résultats ont mis en évidence l’influence des propriétés du bois et des paramètres de collage sur la résistance du joint et la résistance mécanique du produit. En effet, les paramètres du bois, tels que la densité, la rétractibilité et l’imprégnation, ont une forte influence sur le collage, en particulier sur la pression et le grammage nécessaires à la production d’un produit commercialisable. Il apparait qu’un bois de densité moyenne et poreux nécessite un grammage et une pression élevés comparé à un bois de densité élevée qui nécessite des valeurs moindres. Aussi, l’influence d’autres paramètres de fabrication, tels que le rabotage, l’encollage double face et simple face ainsi que l’épaisseur des lamelles, a été établie. Par contre il semblerait que le matériel communément utilisé pour l’aboutage des résineux n’est pas adapté aux feuillus tropicaux. En final, des paramètres de collage ont été validés pour la fabrication de lamellé-collé endémique en Guyane Française et une étude du coût de production d’une poutre lamellé-collé standard a identifié les conditions économiques d’une fabrication en Guyane Française. / A feasibility study of glued-laminated timber beams was carried out in French Guiana using local wood species. The aim of the study was to evaluate the gluing parameters that could ensure good mechanical properties for the manufactured glued-laminated beams in tropical climates. Three abundant wood species with different specific gravity were selected for the study. Melamine-Urea-Formaldehyde and Resorcinol-Phenol-Formaldehyde resins were used for gluing. The three gluing parameters considered are: adhesive spread rate, closing assembly time and gluing pressure.Using European standards, several laboratory tests were performed on normalized samples. The evaluation of a successful lamella’s gluing was done by using elementary tests of delamination and shearing. A delamination test consists of two cycles of water immersion at high pressure and drying which induces severe hygroscopic variation in wood thus causing joints opening. The finger-joints are made using a standard tool usually used for cutting softwoods. The performed tests revealed the influence of wood properties and the gluing parameters on the joint resistance and the mechanical properties of the product. Results show that wood properties such as specific gravity, shrinkage coefficient, and permeation, have a high degree of influence on the gluing step especially on the gluing pressure and on the adhesive spread rate needed to produce a commercial product. Furthermore, wood with medium specific gravity needs more adhesive and more pressure than the one with high specific gravity. Additionally, the effects of other manufacturing parameters, such as planning, double or simple side glue spreading and lamellae thicknesses, on the glue joint resistance were demonstrated. Finally, the common tools used for softwoods are not adapted to making the finger joints with tropical hardwoods.In conclusion, optimal gluing parameters for manufacturing glued-laminated timber beams in French Guiana were established and an economical study using standard glued-laminated timber beams revealed the economic conditions under which a successful manufacturing of these local beams can be implemented in French Guiana.

Wind loads acting on wooden building structures need to be dealt with adequately in order to ensure that neither the serviceability limit state nor the ultimate limit state is exceeded. For the structural designer of tall buildings, avoiding the possibly serious consequences of heavy wind loading while taking account at the same time of the effects of gravitation can be a real challenge. Wind loads are usually no major problem for low buildings, such as one- to two-storey timber structures involving ordinary walls made by nailing or screwing sheets of various types to the frame, but when taller structures are designed and built, serious problems may arise. Since wind speed and thus wind pressure increases with height above the ground and the shear forces transmitted by the walls increase accordingly, storey by storey, considerable efforts can be needed to handle the strong horizontal shear forces that are exerted on the bottom floor in particular. The strong uplift forces that can develop on the wind side of a structure are yet another matter that can be critical. Accordingly, a structure needs to be anchored to the substrate or to the ground by connections that are properly designed. Since the calculated uplift forces depend very much upon the models employed, the choice of models and simplifications in the analysis that are undertaken also need to be considered carefully. The present licentiate thesis addresses questions of how wind loads acting on multi-storey timber buildings can be best dealt with and calculated for in the structural design of such buildings. The conventional use of sheathing either nailed or screwed to a timber framework is considered, together with other methods of stabilizing timber structures. Alternative ways of using solid timber elements for stabilization are also of special interest. The finite element method was employed in simulating the structural behaviour of stabilizing units. A study was carried out of walls in which sheathing was nailed onto a timber frame. Different structural levels were involved, extending from modelling the performance of a single fastener and of the connection of the sheathing to frame, to the use of models of this sort for studying the overall structural behaviour of wall elements that possess a stabilizing function. The results of models used for simulating different load cases for walls agreed reasonably well with experimental test results. The structural properties of the fasteners binding the sheathing to the frame, as well as of the connections between the members of the frame were shown to have a strong effect on the simulated behaviour of shear wall units. Regarding solid wall panels, it was concluded that walls with a high level of both stiffness and strength can be produced by use of such panels, and also that the connections between the solid wall panels can be designed in such a way that the shear forces involved are effectively transmitted from one panel to the next.

Background:      Previous experience with the construction industry tells us that it’s often conservative and slow to adopt changes or use radical new ideas. This is a problem faced by Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), as it’s provides a new way of working with wooden construction, that is still unfamiliar to most companies. Marketing this new solution is therefore hard, especially since a lot of the public is still unsure about the qualities and properties of the product. Purpose:               The purpose of this thesis is to identify the different selling points of CLT to see how this product can be marketed towards an audience that is still sceptical towards the wooden material. Method:                Results are gathered with the help of an interview study with six different companies that all in some way worked with CLT. The results are then put through a grounded analysis. Conclusion:                   The results show us that the most important thing to do when marketing a product that few people know of, or are sceptical towards, is to make sure that information about the benefits of using the product gets out. The most important marketing point for CLT seems to be the environmental advantage compared to concrete and the speed of which buildings can be erected.

The increasing demand for more sustainable construction has led to the development of new structural systems that include wood as building material. Cross laminated timber (CLT) has been identified as a potential system to address this need and to provide alternative options in the range of low- to medium-rise construction. The appeal in using CLT as a shearwall is driven by the combination of the rigid panels and small dimension fasteners, which allows for significant energy dissipation in the structure. However, there is currently no reliable analytical model to accurately predict the behaviour of multi-segment CLT shearwalls. The current study aims to develop an analytical model capable of predicting the elastic and plastic phases associated with the behaviour of multi-panel CLT shearwalls. The model describes the wall behaviour as a function of the connectors’ properties in terms of stiffness, strength and ductility. This dependency means that the only input required in the model is the behavioural parameters of the connections. The proposed model contains six cases with a total of 36 different failure mechanisms. Two final wall behaviours were developed, and it was found that behaviour (i.e. single wall) could be achieved if the yielding in the hold-down occurred prior to yielding in the panel joints. Inversely, the other behaviour (i.e. coupled panels) was achieved if the yielding in the vertical joint occur prior to yielding in the hold-down. The analytical model was validated using a numerical model, and the results of the comparison showed very close match between the two models. The study proposed simplified design provisions with the aim to optimize the walls ductility (CP behaviour) or strength and stiffness (SW behaviour).

Previous studies have mainly focused on the behaviour of timber under uniformly distributed compression perpendicular to the grain (CPG) loads. However, there are many practical applications in which timber is loaded by non-uniformly distributed CPG loads. Different design and test codes like the Eurocode 5 (EC5), DIN 1052:2004, ASTM D143- 94 and EN-408:2010 only account for load configurations where timber is subjected to uniformly distributed loads. For specific uniformly distributed load (UDL) configurations the bearing capacity of timber (solid softwood timber or Glulam) in compression is adapted by using a load configuration factor (kc,90) according to EC5, the European code for design of timber structures. EC5 has no guidelines for cross-laminated timber (CLT) under UDL with the exception of the Austrian National Regulations for EC5. In this work, an experimental and numerical study on the bearing capacity and displacement behaviour of CLT subjected to non-uniformly distributed loading (NuDL) is conducted on eight different load configurations. A steel-CLT connection in which the CLT is partially loaded is used in this study. Finite element modelling, performed using the commercial software Abaqus CAE is used as the numerical simulation of the experimental study and is validated by experimental results. Load configuration factors (kc,90) from experimental results are compared with values from the Swedish CLT handbook (KL-Trähandbok). The outcome of the study shows that load configuration factor for NuDL cases is higher than for UDL cases. Hence, for same load configurations a lower CPG strength is required in NuDL than in UDL. Moreover, numerical results feature overall good congruence with the elastic phase of the experiments and have the potential to augment experiments in further understanding other complex steel-CLT connections

Diploma thesis deals with the design and assessment of load-bearing structure of lookout tower in locality of Spálava peak in Železné hory. Structure is designed on fourt-pointed star ground plan with dimensions 12 x 12 meters. Lookout tower is 35 meters high, the viewing platform is at a height of 30 meters. Structure is designed as a spacial truss. Most load-bearing elements are made of solid or glued laminated timber. The central column is made of steel.