Experimental tests and analytical models of light wood-framed buildings

Abstract

Timber is excellent ecological material. It is biodegradable and not polluting the enviroment after destruction, but also it is very heterogeneous and has got various material properties. In opposition to concrete and steel structures the behavior of timber framed constructions is not properly recognized. The authors presented in this paper a comprehensive overview of the problem of light wood-framed buildings. The wide range of experimental studies and the computational models of individual elements as well whole building in timber frame technology provided and developed in the world of science was presented. The authors also presented the experimental tests provided at Bialystok University of Technology. The range of studies, tested specimen and the results and conclusions was included in this paper. The developed numerical model using finite elements to describe behavior of wall and floor elements of wood-frame building was presented. The model had differences to previous models due to proposing the fasteners as beam elements as well the framing and sheathing as shell elements. The only nonlinear elements in proposed model were sheathing-toframing connectors. The model was compared with the results from experimental studies and gave similar values.