Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2004. / Thesis documentation sheet inserted. Appendix reprints four papers and manuscripts, three co-authored with others. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued electronically via World Wide Web in PDF format; online version lacks appendix.

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2004. / Thesis documentation sheet inserted. Appendix reprints four papers and manuscripts co-authored with others. Includes bibliographical references. Issued also electronically via World Wide Web in PDF format; online version lacks appendix.

Thesis (M.E.)--University of Canterbury, 2009. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-125). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Recent studies showed the need for timber connections with high fire performance. Connections of members in timber structures commonly comprise steel connectors, such as dowels, screws, nails and toothed plates. However, multiple studies have shown that the presence of exposed metal in timber connections leads to a poor performance under fire conditions. Replacing metallic fasteners with non-metallic fasteners potentially enhances the fire performance of timber connections. Previous studies showed that Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) dowels can be a viable replacement for steel dowels and that Densified Veneer Wood functions well as a flitch plate material. However, as the resin matrix of GFRP dowels is viscoelastic, connection creep, which is not studied before, can be of concern. Also no research has been carried out on the fire performance of these connections. Therefore, a study of the creep behaviour and the fire performance of non-metallic timber connections comprising GFRP dowels and a Densified Veneer Wood flitch plate was performed, as is discussed in this thesis. Predictive models were proposed to determine the connection slip and load bearing capacity at ambient and elevated temperatures and in a fire. The material properties and heat transfer properties required for these models were determined experimentally and predictions of these models were experimentally validated. Furthermore, an adjustment of the predictive model of connection slip at ambient temperature allowed approximating the creep of the connection. The material properties, required for the creep model, were determined experimentally and predictions of the model were compared to results of longterm connection tests. The study confirmed that timber members jointed with non-metallic connectors have a significantly improved fire performance to timber joints using metallic connections. Models developed and proposed to predict fire performance gave accurate predictions of time to failure. It was concluded that non-metallic connections showed more creep per load per connector, than metallic connections. However, the ratio between initial deflection and creep (relative creep) and the ratio between load level and creep were shown to be similar for metallic and non-metallic connections.

The built environment must innovate and adopt new materials and construction practices in order to meet current and forecasted environmental challenges, economic uncertainties and construction pressures. The specification of mass timber materials and building assemblies will play a major role in addressing these issues. The objectives of this research are fourfold: 1) Develop a deeper understanding among construction professionals of the role mass timber buildings can have in greatly reducing CO2 emissions through the use of renewable forest products and the storage of carbon in buildings; 2) Provide insights into the utilization of mass timber products for architectural application that advance environmental sustainability – while moving toward continued industry acceptance and parity with other well-known structural materials (steel and concrete); 3) Expand current knowledge among architects, builders and developers of mass timber construction by examining and addressing the real-life challenges and benefits of mass timber implementation – including the environmental impacts, economic drivers and construction practices that promote architectural adoption; 4) Educate the construction industry to better understand the real “value” of mass timber construction and how best to implement mass timber products. Furthermore, the outcomes of this research will convey valuable information for future research that explores the architectural and environmental benefits associated with the implementation of mass timber; and can serve as a valuable tool for additional studies on how the construction industry might further innovate and evolve to meet the pressing demands of building development. The accomplish these research objectives, this dissertation will be divided into five sections: 1) Introduction; 2) Carbon matters: Evaluating the aggregated impact of sequestered carbon from projects in a mass timber architecture design studio; 3) Pioneering mass timber in Mississippi: Lessons learned and the carbon story of the Lost Rabbit mixed-use development; 4) Pioneering mass timber in Utah: Best practices, lessons learned and the carbon story of the Baltic Pointe commercial office building; and 5) Conclusion.

The aim of this master thesis is to design and check a bearing structure of The multifunctional center in Jihlava. A bulding is partly ground flooring. The structure follows an L-curve in a plan with the biggest axial lenght of 40 m. A roofing is in a shed shape and the pitch of the roof is 5,73°. The highest point of the bearnig structure is 11,5 m. The structure has various frame systems, which is a truss, a gross-cross section beam with an inner column in the middle of a span and a gross-cross section beam without an inner column. The structure is designed mainly from timber members, a glulam and solid timber. A steel part of structure consists of the metal fasteners and rods.