Developing an Understanding for Grading Timber in Existing Buildings
Abstract
Structural engineers and architects must make decisions about the ability of lumber and structural timber (wood members) to resist the design loads in existing or historic buildings. Unfortunately, they do so often without the necessary knowledge to properly assess the ability of the timber to provide reliable, long-term, safe performance. Due to uncertainties about the allowable design stresses that can be assigned to structural timbers, very conservative decisions to replace or reinforce these members are often made, even though the timbers are working, i.e. they have and will continue to safely carry the loads imposed upon them. Too many decisions result in the replacement of historic material that could, in fact, remain in service without compromising structural integrity. This paper presents engineers and architects with the justification to retain more structural timber in existing buildings through a better understanding of visual grading.
Reference
Ron W. Anthony. (2013). Developing an Understanding for Grading Timber in Existing Buildings. Advanced Materials Research. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.778.1049
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