The Challenges of Designing a Wooden Beam of Composed Section

Abstract

This work describes details about the challenges and solutions encountered in the timber structure beam. The choice for wood is due to the fact that it is a better material suited for environments with high salinity and, in this context, to reduce maintenance costs. The entire roof was supported only by four columns, which forced the side and frontal beams to exceed spans over 18 meters without intermediate supports. This was the most important challenge of the project: to find a section to the beam which can attend the ultimate limit state and serviceability in wood to the dimensions in project. The answer was clear: It would need to have composed section. A computational model was constructed using the finite element method in order to obtain the efforts on the structural elements. It is important to emphasize that the design of a wood structure requires not only knowledge, but creativity as well, to overcome the challenges posed by the distinctive needs to the detailing of this material. In addition to that, it requires special attention during the construction execution, because of the difficulty that the carpenters have to read the specific plans.