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Summary The paper presents a rheological model capable of reproducing the temperature‐, stress‐, and time‐dependent strain component, which occurs in steel and aluminium during exposure to high temperature. The model is capable of providing the creep strain output for the primary, secondary, and tertiary creep phases for both steel and aluminium. Constitutive parameters of the rheological model are calibrated using 2 recent coupon test studies based on the European steel grade S275JR and aluminium grade EN6082AW T6, both of which are currently used in the construction industry. The calibrated constitutive parameters are valid within the temperature range, within which creep is expected to occur (400‐600°C for steel and 200‐300°C for aluminium). The rheological model proposed in the paper can easily be used for application in finite element–based computer codes.

The aim of this study was to assess the potential of hardwoods harvested in Croatian forests for the production of glued laminated timber (glulam), mainly of those species for which there is no published performance assessment. Nine sets of glulam beams were produced: three sets using lamellas from European hornbeam, three sets from Turkey oak, and three sets from maple. Each set was characterized by a different hardwood species and surface preparation method. The surface preparation methods included planing, planing followed by sanding with fine grit, and planing followed by sanding with coarse grit. The experimental investigations included shear tests of the glue lines in dry conditions and bending tests of the glulam beams. The shear tests showed satisfactory performance of the glue lines for the Turkey oak and European hornbeam, but not for the maple. The results of the bending tests showed superior bending strength of the European hornbeam compared to the Turkey oak and maple. Planing followed by rough sanding of the lamellas was shown to have a significant influence on the bending strength and stiffness of the glulam from Turkey oak.

Glued laminated timber (GLT) made of hardwood is a modern construction product developed in line with the current changes in the forestry industry. In the last decade studies on hardwoods (deciduous) such as beech, oak, chestnut and ash have been intensively conducted in Europe. The results of those studies are GLT with favourable mechanical characteristics and provisional approvals for their use in construction. This paper presents an overview of currently approved GLT made of hardwood, relevant wood species and adhesive types in their production, as well as currently applicable numerical models.

This paper demonstrates some computational aspects of two previously developed numerical models for a static and dynamic analysis of shells based on the combined finite‐discrete element method. The dynamic and static response of shells under various boundary conditions, mesh pattern and mesh refinement was analysed and compared with other numerical and analytical results in order to illustrate the accuracy and applicability of the proposed numerical models.