A study of built - up timber structural elements

Abstract

Code on timber design CBS 5268 Part 2, 1991) gives no provisions for the design of layered braced and box timber columns except spaced timber columns. Very little information is available about these in the literature on timber structures. This paper provides procedure for determining the axial load capacity of mechanically connected built-up columns, such as layered columns, spaced columns, braced columns and box columns. In addition to that, it gives information about nail connection details and arrangement. Mainly concentrated on built-up timber columns made up with mechanical connection as it could be done locally. The theoretical development takes into account the effect of columns stability and effectiveness of the shear transfer. The experimental results obtained by under graduate students are compared with theoretical predictions. Conclusions are drawn with regards to the suitability of the design methods for built up timber columns made by nailed connections.