74862 - Design of Timber Structures M

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, and after passing the final exam, the student has advanced knowledge of: wood as a building material, criteria and methods according to which to model its mechanical behaviour, the most common schemes for the modelling and calculation of wooden structures, even highly hyperstatic, the criteria for the design, calculation and verification of structural elements in solid wood and laminated wood. He has satisfactory knowledge of the construction details that allow the concrete construction of a wooden structure and the main operating methodologies of the corresponding site. It can also consult and interpret the main technical regulations on structural design, with particular reference to the use of wood.

Course contents

Wood technology

Wood anatomy, wood-water relations, drying, density, net wood and structural wood.
The defects of the wood, hint at the methods of classification.

The structural wood

Species of wood, solid wood, laminated wood, panels and wood derivatives.

Physical and mechanical characteristics of wood. Classification of wood into strength classes.

Influence of environmental conditions, the effect of humidity and duration of loads on resistance and deformation. Duration and degradation of wood.

The recurring structural types and their sizing (frame structures, load-bearing wall structures). Structural design and recurring types. Structural calculation scheme according to Eurocodes and technical standards 2008.

Frame structures - One-dimensional elements

It controls the final limit states of bending, cutting, orthogonal compression to the fibers, compression parallel to the fibers, instability to the peak load (one-dimensional).

Control limit state checks of deflection and vibration.

Mechanical joints, carpentry joints, glued joints, Johansen theory

Design and testing of connection systems for one-dimensional elements.

Panel structures

Limit state checks of X-LAM panels.

Sizing and testing of connection systems for XLAM panels.

Fire safety. Fire resistance: resistance and reaction. Regulatory aspects

Profile of wooden buildings in the seismic zone. Presentation of the different types of construction of wooden walls and definition of seismic design methodologies and numerical modeling.

Theory of wood-concrete composite beams

Consolidation and improvement of existing timber structures

Readings/Bibliography

• Laner F., Barbisan U., I solai in legno, 1995.
• Piazza M., Tomasi R., Modena R., Strutture in legno - Materiale, calcolo e progetto secondo le nuove normative europee, Hoepli, 2005
• Jack Porteous, Abdy Kermani, Structural Timber Design to Eurocode 5, Ed. Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2007.
• Ceccotti, Follesa, Lauriola. Le strutture di legno in zona sismica - II edizione . Clut 2007.
• Normative di riferimento per il calcolo e la realizzazione di opere civili- NTC 2018 - Norme tecniche per le costruzioni e relativa circolare esplicativa.
  
• CNR DT206/2007 “Istruzioni per la Progettazione, l'Esecuzione ed il Controllo delle Strutture di Legno” .
• Eurocodice 5. Progettazione delle strutture di legno. Parte 1-1: Regole generali - Regole comuni e regole per gli edifici.

Teaching methods

Lectures on the theoretical basis of the problems covered by the course. Lectures on the application and technological aspects of the design of new wooden structures and for the consolidation of existing structures. Lessons on design examples.

The lessons will mainly take place with the use of slide presentations and the use of blackboard.

Lessons will be recorded.

Assessment methods

The verification of learning takes place through the development of a project and a final examination. Both activities allow you to evaluate the acquisition of expected knowledge and skills. To access the final exam, it is necessary to hand over the project developed during the lesson period with the help of the teacher and the tutor.

The project is assigned by the teacher during the lessons (about half of the cycle of the lessons). The student will have more than one month to complete the required course.

The oral test, lasting about half an hour, usually consists of three of these that concern:

1. discussion of the design;
2. design, calculation and verification of wood elements and related connection systems;
3. theoretical aspects related to the above program.

Passing the exam will be guaranteed to students who demonstrate mastery and operational ability about the key concepts illustrated in teaching, and in particular to a good command of the methods of resolution of structures and the correct application of design and verification techniques.

Failure to pass the exam may be due to serious design deficiencies, insufficient knowledge of basic concepts such as static and kinematic structures, concepts of balance and congruence or lack of mastery of technical language.

Teaching tools

Whiteboard, Projector, and Slide in digital format.

Material is downloadable via distribution lists. The credentials will be provided by the teacher during the first lessons of the course.

Office hours

See the website of Luca Pozza