Influence of local strain - differences on the bearing capacity of Glulam

Abstract

Glued laminated timber, so-called Glulam, is a structural timber product composed of several layers of timber glued together. Glulam structures have many advantages compared to solid wooden structures; e.g. lower variability of the material properties or a larger range of component dimensions to choose.

The aim of this project is to develop a probabilistic, parametric model to describe the mechanical performance of glulam. In this model the parameters, such as material properties of board sections, distances between knots and distances between finger joints are represented probabilistically. Furthermore the influence of local strains on the bearing capacity is taken into account.

With experimental analysis (on the timber boards) the parameters of the model are estimated. Based on the results of the experimental analysis glulam beams with target arrangement of knots are produced. Furthermore the influence of the different knot arrangements on the bearing capacity is assessed.