The research summarized by this thesis was comprised of an experimental analysis of beams loaded perpendicular to grain at midspan by a bolted double-shear laterally-loaded connection. Connection specimens were loaded monotonically until capacity was reached. Variables of consideration included the loaded edge distance of the connection main member, the span:depth ratio of the main member, and the main member material. Southern pine machine-stress-rated (MSR) lumber, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and parallel strand lumber (PSL) were the three material types included in the program. Experimental results were compared with theoretical predictions from three models: the yield theory-based general dowel equations, which are currently the standard for laterally-loaded connection design in the U.S., and two models based upon fracture mechanics. All material property inputs required by the three models, were measured in the experimental program of this research and used to produce theoretical predictions. Comparisons were also made with respect to design values in the form of calculated factors of safety, over-strengths, and design factors of safety. Test results and observed trends are provided for all connection and material property tests. Notable trends included failure by splitting for all connections at low loaded edge distances, and variable span:depth ratios generally having a negligible effect on both connection and model performance. In most cases, the general dowel equations were more accurate than the two fracture models, however it should be noted that all three models over-predicted connection capacity at low loaded edge distances. / Master of Science

This Ph.D. thesis represents a summative report detailing research processes and outcomes from investigating the ultimate and serviceability limit state short- and long-term behaviour and design of timber-concrete composite floors. The project enables the realization of a semi-prefabricated LVL-concrete composite floor system of up to 15 m long using 3 types of connection. Design span tables which satisfy the ultimate and serviceability limit state short- and long-term verifications for this system form the novel contribution of this thesis. In quantifying the behaviour of timber-concrete composite floors, 5 different experimental phases have been carried. 9 major achievements in meeting 9 sub-objectives have been concluded: 1) Three best types of connection system for timber-concrete composite floors have been identified; 2) The characteristic strength and secant slip moduli for these connections have been determined; 3) The short-term behaviour of the selected connections defined by their pre- and post-peak responses under collapse load has been established; 4) An analytical model for the strength evaluation of the selected connections based on the different possible modes of failure has been derived; 5) Easy and fast erected semi-prefabricated timber-concrete composite floor has been proposed; 6) The short-term ultimate and serviceability limit state behaviour of timber-concrete composite floor beams under collapse load has been investigated; 7) The long-term behaviour of chosen connections defined by their creep coefficient has been determined; 8) The long-term behaviour of timber-concrete composite floor beams under sustained load at serviceability limit state condition has been investigated; and 9) Design example and span tables for semi-prefabricated timber-concrete composite floors that satisfy both the ultimate and serviceability limit state in the short- and long-term using the gamma-method have been developed.

Pour répondre à la demande croissante de bois et pour préserver les forêts primaires, les méthodes de sylviculture les plus dynamiques ont été privilégiées de manière générale sur la planète.. Les objectifs de la recherche étaient 1) déterminer le point de démarcation/ âge de transition entre le bois juvénile et le bois mature sur sengon (Falcataria moluccana), jabon(Anthocephalus cadamba Miq.), peuplier (Populus sp) et douglas (Psedotsuga menziesii); 2) analyser l'effet de la juvénilité sur un fissuration cyclique, la rugosité et de mouillage; 3) analyser l'effet de la fissuration cyclique et juvénilité sur la résistance à l'adhérence de la colle et les propriétés mécaniques du LVL en flexion; et 4) appliquer un nouveau modèle analytique pour estimer la variation du module d'élasticité du lamibois (sengon et jabon) depuis la moelle vers l'écorce. A partir de la longueur des fibres, le point de démarcation entre le bois juvénile et le bois mature ont été estimés. Pour les essences sengon and jabon, les placages obtenus à partir du cœur des arbres, réputés juvéniles, sont plus fissurés plus rugueux et avec une haute mouillabilité comparativement à ceux obtenus à partir du bois près de l’écorce (plus mature). Une phase d’étuvage préliminaire des bois dans un bain d’eau chaude à 75°C pendant 4 heures a permis d’améliorer sensiblement la qualité des placages en diminuant la fissuration, la rugosité et s’accompagne d’une augmentation de la mouillabilité. La résistance à l'adhérence de la colle, et les modules élastiques et de rupture spécifiques (SMOE et SMOR) du LVL (jabon et sengon) diminuent à mesure que la fréquence de fissure augmente ou en partant de l'écorce vers la moelle. L'avantage de l'utilisation de placages en peuplier de bois mature a été prouvé avec une amélioration de 15 à 20% en moyenne pour les propriétés mécaniques, pour un poids de panneau comparable. Pour le douglas, l'utilisation de placages de bois mature dans la constitution des panneaux de LVL permet également d’améliorer les performances en flexion (de 7 à 22 % sur el MOR). Le modèle analytique a été utilisé afin de prédire les variations du module élastique allant de la moelle à l’écorce. Il permet à partir d’un grand nombre de combinaisons d’estimer le potentiel issu d’une ressource donnée. Pour le contexte de l’étude qui représente bien le potentiel sylvicole de l’Indonésie, la proportion de bois juvénile étant quasi-totale (100%), l’action de trier les placages n’est pas apparue comme pertinente. / The development of plantation and community forest to meet wood demand in society has produced fast growing wood species. The research objectives were 1) to determine demarcation point/transition age between juvenile and mature wood on sengon (Falcataria moluccana), jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba Miq.), poplar (Populus sp) and douglas fir (Psedotsuga menzii); 2) to analyze the effect of juvenility on lathe check, surface roughness and wettability; 3) to analyze the effect of lathe check and juvenility on glue bond strength and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) bending properties; and 4) to apply a new analytical model to determine the variation of specific MOE LVL values of sengon and jabon from pith to bark. Based on fiber length trait, the demarcation point between juvenile and mature wood were approximately at segmented rings 17th (sengon) and at segmented ring 24th (jabon). While, transition age of poplar cultivars and douglas-fir, transition age happened approximately at 12 years old and 18 years old, respectively. The results showed that wood near pith on sengon and jabon resulted veneers with higher lathe check, rougher surface and high wettability, while wood near bark resulted veneers with lower lathe check, smoother surface and low wettability. Glue bond strength, Specific MOE (SMOE) and Specific MOR (Modulus of Rupture) of sengon and jabon LVL were decreased as the frequency of lathe check increased or those strength values increased from pith to bark. The advantage of using poplar veneers from mature wood was proved with an improvement of 15 to 20% on average for mechanical properties, while for douglas-fir, was 7 to 22%. An analytical model was used to predict the variation of the LVL mechanical characteristics using different scenarios. According to the context of this study assumed to be close to the Indonesian resource there is no need to sort veneers since most of the tree is juvenile wood for logs no older than 7.

Master’s thesis focuses on area of historic water reservoirs on Yellow Hill, situated between streets of Tomešova and Tvrdého. They continued to supply Brno with non-potable water until 1997 and TIC is currently looking for a new way to make water reservoirs accesable and more interesting to the general public. Due to the existence of underground reservoirs the site has remained undeveloped and is covered with dense greenery. Thanks to that, the character of the place is in the context of the surrounding build-up area very unique. The proposal not only respects that, but seeks to support it. The whole area is undergoing through new landscape design and is completed by three single-storey pavilions, which with their various functions ensure the operation of the site. The historic buildings that were used to manage the underground reservoirs are renovated and integrated into the operation of the site. An important part of the design is also the solution of barrier-free access to reservoirs, their interconnection and installation of optical device - the Camery Obscury in the oldest of the reservoirs. The whole place becomes more accesible and attractive for visitors.