FPInnovations releases new design guide for tall timber structures
Forest sector non-profit FPInnovations has released a new guide that it hopes will encourage engineers to design new wood buildings.
The new Modelling Guide for Timber Structures provides state-of-the-art information on the structural analysis of timber construction to provide engineers with new design tools to facilitate the construction of taller and larger wood buildings.
The guide, which was developed in collaboration with more than 100 experts from 13 countries, comprises a wide range of practical and advanced modelling topics, including key modelling principles, methods, and techniques specific to timber structures, modelling approaches, and considerations for wood-based components, connections, and assemblies.
It also provides analytical approaches and considerations for timber structures during progressive collapse, wind, and earthquake events, and presents the differences in the modelling approaches to timber, steel, and concrete structures.
“Computer modelling is an essential part in the structural analysis and design of mid- and high-rise residential and commercial timber buildings, as well as long-span timber structures, where traditional engineering hand calculations or spreadsheets that are typically adopted by the designers for low-rise timber buildings are no longer adequate," says publication co-editor Zhiyong Chen. “This guide was developed based on efficient modelling methodologies and analysis methods and provides valuable resources for advanced computer modelling of timber systems.”
“The rise of timber structures continues to emerge across North America and around the world,” says Amy Heilig, CEO, USA Office, Dlubal Software Inc. “With a lighter carbon footprint and lower energy consumption of any building material in its life cycle, timber has proven to be beneficial for our environment. Additionally, wood construction methods are quicker and simpler leading to long-term cost savings. The tireless work and dedication put toward the Modelling Guide for Timber Structures to promote a more sustainable world is unprecedented giving engineers the all-encompassing tool they need for timber structure modeling and design.”
FPInnovations specializes in the creation of solutions that support the Canadian forest sector’s global competitiveness. It performs state-of-the-art research, develops advanced technologies, and delivers innovative solutions to complex problems for every area of the sector’s value chain, from forest operations to consumer and industrial products.