Structural behaviour of glued laminated timber beams reinforced by compressed wood


Anshari, Buan Structural behaviour of glued laminated timber beams reinforced by compressed wood. Doctor of Philosophy thesis, University of Liverpool.

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Abstract

As an engineered wood product, glued laminated timber (Glulam) is produced to minimise several natural weaknesses such as knots and non-uniform strength in order to enhance its stiffness and load carrying capacity. Many reinforcement methods have been tested, with promising results in increasing the strength and stiffness of beam. Recently, with increasing concern on environmental protection there is a growing trend in construction to use as many natural materials as possible. Therefore, conventional types of reinforcement using metals and/or synthetic materials do not fit well with this trend. A new approach to strengthen Glulam beams using pure natural materials has been established through this research. Glulam beams were strengthened by inserting compressed wood (CW) blocks into the pre-cut rectangular holes on the top of the beams. This practice was to make use of moisture-dependent swelling nature of the compressed wood. As a result, a pre-camber was produced in the mid-span of the beam reinforced. Significant initial tensile and compressive stresses were generated at both the top and the bottom extreme fibres of the beam, respectively. Material tests have been done to investigate material properties of compressed Japanese cedar with different compression ratios. Structural tests were undertaken for short and long Glulam beams strengthened by CW blocks after gained the pre-camber. 3-D finite element models have also been developed by using commercial code ABAQUS to simulate the pre-stressing behaviour of Glulam beams reinforced using compressed wood blocks. The finite element models were used to simulate the structural behaviour of the pre-stressed beams subjected to subsequent destructive bending tests. All computer models developed were validated against corresponding experimental results of the free moisture-dependent swelling, pre-stressing processes and the destructive tests for both the short and long beams. Reasonably good correlation was obtained in terms of the free swelling, the pre-camber, initial stress state of the Glulam beams reinforced and load-deflection relationships. Using validated computer models, parametric studies were further carried out to provide design information for such a reinforcing technique. The results have indicated that the reinforcing techniques using compressed wood blocks are very effective means to enhance the initial stiffness, bending strength and load carrying capacity of Glulam beams. The technology is ready to be applied in practice.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy)
Additional Information: Date: 2012-09 (completed)
Divisions: Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 06 Sep 2013 11:08
Last Modified: 17 Dec 2022 01:19
DOI: 10.17638/00009115
Supervisors:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/9115
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