Technical Feasibility Study for the Use of Alternative Timber in Latticework for Roofing with Spans between 16 and 26 Meters

Abstract

Wood, a renewable source material, has been part of the progress of mankind, being widely used in construction for centuries. However, with the passage of time, new construction techniques were being applied, new materials have been rising and, in the meantime, wood was being left out, being labelled as a material with huge incidence of pathologies. That due to its empirical use without any technical knowledge regarding its physical and mechanical properties, which still happens nowadays, being used mainly for temporary purposes. In order to show the technical viability of the use of this material as a structural element, the elaboration of projects with the following characteristics was proposed: buildings with truss structures (parallel chord) type "Howe" (10° inclination-steel tile); 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 meters span; side openings types of the building-1:1, 2:1, 6:1 and open; preservative treatment. Thus, it was determined the ratio of the volume of wood (m³) and the built area (m²) for timbers classes C-20 and C-30, following the NBR 7190:1997 guidelines. With the results, it is possible to assure the real possibility of using wood species C-20 and C-30 as structural material.