A natural model for engineering timber

Unseasoned timber has been analysed for strength, growth stresses and factors associated with the anatomy of wood. It has been possible to demonstrate mechanisms for the improvement of load distribution in fibre-reinforced materials. This is a prerequisite for cost-effective and light-weight construction.

This project involved the conduct of fundamental biomechanical analyses of natural timber, in order to allow the optimum load distribution properties of the latter to be transposed to fibre-reinforced materials which are produced by technical processes.

The improvement of stress concentration in fibre-reinforced materials has been based upon the analysis of perforated sheet material, together with digital analyses conducted using models with various material parameters, and practical tests using glass fibre prototypes.


Results:

• Through an understanding of the macro- and microscopic anatomy of trees, it has been possible to develop the “multilinearisation method”, which allows the maximum tolerable loading of notched and engineered fibre-reinforced materials to be substantially increased through optimum load distribution.
• In torsional and bending strength tests, optimally reinforced pipes have shown maximum tolerable load increases of 26% (torsion) and 73% (flexion).

Results obtained provide a basis for cost-effective and light-weight construction.


Source Of Supply: The final report (call number ZA 5141(6717), in German) can be borrowed from Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB) Hannover, Welfengarten 1B, 30167 Hannover.



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