INNOVATIVE USE OF TIMBER ROUNDS IN HIGH

PERFORMANCE STRUCTURES

Mark L Batchelar1

ABSTRACT: This paper introduces new developments in the use of round timbers in high performance structures.
Innovative structural systems and connections utilizing timber rounds are presented.

The author initially proposed that timber rounds could be hollowed or cored using a high pressure water jet system. This
was trialled by TTT Products Ltd and further development by TTT resulted in the successful implementation of a dry
coring system that produced hollow round timbers of up to 18m in length. The removal of the pith and juvenile
material from rounds results in significant advantages over solid rounds including: improved drying; significant
reduction in tangential shrinkage (checking) and twisting; reduced kiln drying and pressure treatment cycles; and
reduced transportation cost. Other advantages include improved durability resulting from complete treatment
penetration. This is of particular importance for foundation members such as piles.

Connection systems developed for hollow timber rounds include post tensioning and concealed internal sleeve joints.
The application of post tensioned technology to round timbers has not previously been used and is a new concept. The
introduction of hollow round members allows significant advances in structural timber frames, where both grouted or
un-grouted post tensioned systems are possible. Connections encased within timber rounds are effectively protected
from the effects of fire and corrosive environments. Using timber in its natural form, with minimal processing,
optimises the axial compressive strength of members, enables cost effective and energy efficient foundation and
structural systems. Current and future applications of hollow timber rounds are illustrated in this paper.

KEYWORDS: Hollow timber rounds, post tensioning, multi-storey structures, piling, water jetting.

1 INTRODUCTION 123 selection of the higher grade material from a processed

Natural timber rounds were the earliest construction
materials used in societies where an abundant natural
timber resource existed. Timber members were given
minimal processing using hand tools, and were utilised
in ways that took advantage of the strength of a trees
natural circular form. Tree physiology naturally provides
round timber members with high axial, bending strength
and flexibility to accommodate lateral loads.
The industrial age brought geometrical precision in
timber buildings, with straight lines and member
regularity. However because of the way trees grow
processing round logs into rectangular members
significantly reduced the dependable strength of the
processed material.
Many timber processing industries now exist aimed at
optimising the strength properties of timber elements for
structural applications: graded sawn timber, plywood,
glulam, orientated strand board, laminated veneer
lumber, cross-lam etc These industries are based around
1
Mark Batchelar, mlb Consulting Engineers, Auckland, New
Zealand. Email: mark.batchelar@mlb.co.nz
log, which is then assembled, with the use of adhesives,
into a new product with dependable properties and
dimensions. However, this degree of processing may not
be necessary for many structural applications.
The use of round timber radiata pine softwood in New
Zealand has largely been consigned to industrial storage
buildings where appearance is not critical, in building
platforms, piled foundations and retaining walls or in
some cases for dwellings where a rustic aesthetic is
desired. Resistance to the use of naturally round timber
can typically be attributed to the quality of the finished
appearance (see Figure 2) and the complexity of
connection details.
This paper introduces a new process where the core
material is removed from the log, as illustrated in
Figure 1, and highlights the potential applications of
cored rounds for high performance structures. The
removal of the juvenile core wood fibre enhances the
quality of the timber round and in addition enables the
development of structures with concealed connections.

Figure 1: Cored and machined logs. (courtesy of TTT)
2 MATERIAL PROPERTIES
The core material of a log, the juvenile or heartwood,
consists of wood fibre and pith that is developed in the
early stages of tree growth. This material has low
strength and stiffness. Consequently, removing this
wood fibre from the centre core of a log has no
significant adverse effect on its axial or bending strength
and stiffness.
For example, removing a core of diameter equal to 1/3 of
the outside diameter of the section only marginally
reduces section stiffness and modulus:
IP= Do4/64 ICP= (Do4-Di4)/64 = 0.99IP
ZP= Do3/32 ZCP= (Do3-Di3)/32 = 0.96ZP (1)
where Do = outside diameter, Di = inside diameter
=Do/3, IP and ICP = the second moment of inertia of the
solid pole and cored pole respectively, ZP and ZCP = the
section modulus of the solid pole and cored pole
respectively.
2.1 DRYING
Significant quantities of energy and time are required to
kiln dry logs to a moisture content (mc) suitable for a
structural frame in an enclosed building (approx. 16%).
For large diameter logs a steaming process is necessary
which also lowers the characteristic strength and
stiffness properties of the timber. Solid logs with outside
diameter of 450mm can take several weeks to condition
in a kiln. Drying time for the same sized logs with core
removed has been reduced to a few days with
consequent major savings in energy.
Cored round timbers used as piles, where kiln drying is
not necessary, have been found to air dry more rapidly
than solid members such that 30% more material can be
transported for a given vehicle load limit thus giving
significant reductions in transport costs.
2.2 STABILITY
The drying process for standard logs results in radial
shrinkage with the development of longitudinal splits or
checks. Figure 2 shows a 300mm diameter solid radiata
pine machined log dried to 20% mc. For radiata pine
this is 10% below the mc at the fibre saturation point.
Maximum check widths measured for this diameter log
were 4mm. For lower equilibrium moisture contents
larger check widths can develop and checks can
penetrate to near the core of the log. While this does not
impair the strength of the member the resulting
appearance may not be acceptable.
Figure 2: Drying checks on 300mm diameter solid
machined log at 20% moisture content. (courtesy of TTT)
Figure 3 illustrates the effect of removing the core of a
log on the distribution and size of shrinkage cracks for
logs dried to 20% mc. Figure 3a shows a 400mm
diameter machined log with a 120mm diameter hollow
core. Figure 3b is a 300 mm diameter machined log with
95mm diameter hollow core and Figure 3c a 200mm
diameter machined log with 75mm hollow core. The
maximum check widths measured at the circumference
of all the cored logs was 1.5mm. Hence, cored rounds
exhibited greatly reduced checking.
In the first series of tests measurements of dimensional
change in 30 cored logs of length 3m and outside
diameter of 203mm were recorded (Table 1).
In the second series of tests specimen logs were
machined to a constant diameter then cut into two
lengths with the core removed from one of the lengths.
Measurements of twist and reduction in diameter of
300mm and 435mm diameter samples are recorded in
Table 2.
From the first series of tests the changes in dimension for
the cored logs were consistent with those expected for
solid members [1]. The cored rounds were dried from
fibre saturation point to a moisture content (mc) of 5% to
record the maximum likely dimensional changes. In a
normal building environment with members protected
from the weather the equilibrium moisture content of
timber would be 15% to 16% giving expected
dimensional changes of approximately half of those
recorded in Table 1. Drying checks were relatively
evenly distributed around the circumference of the test
samples with no concentrated checks occurring. For
Table 1, log mc were determined measuring the weight
of the members before and after drying.
 solid log) may be significantly higher than the value
recorded by the moisture meter.

Comparing the average twist on drying for both 300mm

and 435mm diameter logs the removal of the core wood
approximately halves the degree of twist. It is worth
noting also that for the test samples 435mm diameter
logs had less than half the twist of the 300mm diameter
logs. This indicates, firstly that larger diameter logs are
more stable during drying and secondly that removing
the core material further reduces drying distortion.

The diameter measurements in Table 2 show a reduction

in diameter of the solid logs as being less than those with
(a) the core removed. This will be due largely to the solid
specimens having a higher core mc This results in a
compressive restraint by the core material which limits
the reduction of the log diameter.

A direct comparison between the cored logs of Table 1 is

not provided due to the differences in the mc testing
methods.

Twist on drying: 4 pairs of matched samples 3m long

300mm Min. Max. Average Average
diam. (deg) (deg) (deg) (%)
solid 0.30 1.39 0.90 0.25
cored 0.20 0.78 0.51 0.14
(b) (c)
Twist on drying: 3 pairs of matched samples 4m long
Figure 3: Drying checks on (a) 400mm diameter cored 435mm Min. Max. Average Average
(b) 300mm & (c) 200mm diameter cored machined logs diam. (deg) (deg) (deg) (%)
at 20% moisture content. (courtesy of TTT) solid 0.20 0.60 0.35 0.10
cored 0.15 0.30 0.23 0.06

Twist on drying: 30 samples 3m long Diameter reduction on drying: 4 pairs of matched

Minimum Maximum Average Average samples 3m long
(deg) (deg) (deg) (%) 300mm Min. Max. Average Average
0 29 15.1 4.19 diam. (mm) (mm) (mm) (%)
solid 1.3 2.2 1.6 0.54
Axial shortening: 30 samples 3m long cored 0.5 4.3 0.23 3.15
Minimum Maximum Average Average Diameter reduction on drying: 3 pairs of matched
(mm) (mm) (mm) (%) samples 4m long
0 11 5.0 0.17 435mm Min. Max. Average Average
diam. (mm) (mm) (mm) (%)
Diameter reduction: 30 samples with recordings at solid 1.0 1.8 1.26 2.91
ends of members and 1/3 points cored 1.8 2.0 1.87 4.29
Minimum Maximum Average Average
Table 2: Dimensional change due to drying from fibre
(mm) (mm) (mm) (%) saturation point to 20% moisture content of matched solid
2 10 6.7 3.3 and cored machined logs

Table 1: Dimensional change due to drying from fibre
saturation point to 5% moisture content of cored 203mm
diameter machined logs
The dimensional changes of the solid and cored
members from series two are shown in Table 2, These
samples were dried from fibre saturation point to 20%
mc .For the comparison the mc of the logs was
determined with a resistance type moisture metre with
50mm probes. Notably, the mc of core material (for a
2.3 TREATMENT AND DURABILITY
The New Zealand building regulations require radiata
pine sap wood to be chemically treated to provide the
necessary durability in exposed environments or where
contact with the ground is possible [2]. In a solid round
the depth of sap wood penetrated by chemicals in a
pressure treatment vessel can vary between 30mm and
150mm depending on the size of the log. Heart wood
remains untreated except at the ends of the logs where
treatment chemicals are absorbed through the end grain.
Untreated heart wood can therefore be exposed if end
docking or rebates are made into treated members. To
avoid compromising the durability of treated poles
rebating after treatment is typically limited to 30mm.

Checks that occur naturally when a timber log dries can

also provide access for insect or decay organisms to
penetrate and attack untreated core material.

Pressure treated cored logs, with an internal diameter of

1/3 of outside diameter, have all achieved 100%
treatment over the full length. Limitations on docking or
cutting into these treated members would therefore not
be applicable to cored rounds.
Figure 4: Annular grooved connection for round timbers.
(courtesy of TTT)
Foundation timbers fully embedded in the ground away
from sources of oxygen are generally not susceptible to
The development of a cored timber member enabled
decay. It is therefore of advantage both for economic
post-tensioned steel rods to be located in the core cavity
and environmental reasons to use untreated timber for
to provide an effective tension splice. Tower legs are
deep piles and splice deeper sections to treated sections
comprised of several members (Figure 5). Temporary
at or near the ground surface.
tensioning is done to stabilise the tower as each new
section is added (Figure 6a). Once the top section is in
2.4 MEMBER SIZE
place the internal rods are given a final tensioning, with
Radiata pine logs up to 18m long can be cored. Log calibrated dome washers used to ensure that appropriate
outside diameters as small as 180mm and as large as rod tension are applied (Figure 6b).
550mm can be processed. Smaller diameter radiate pine
logs harvested from younger trees are not typically Towers are often located in remote elevated sites where
available in longer lengths. regular maintenance is difficult. With the primary steel
tension components protected from the weather by an
annulus of timber a durable structure is created.
3 STRUCTURAL APPLICATIONS
Telecommunication towers have very strict deflection
Elements in a structural system must satisfy the demands
requirements at service loads and rod tension forces have
of strength, stiffness, robustness in extreme events, fire
to be sufficient to prevent decompression between the
safety, and aesthetics. Increasingly further consideration
timber members at the splice joints. Allowance for
is being given to the impact that structural elements have
timber member axial shortening and time dependant
on the environment and their effect on sustainable
creep are considered in setting the required post
development. Using timber in its round form with
tensioning for the internal rods. This is not difficult as
minimal processing and optimising its naturally high
the stretch in a tensioned steel rod over the height of a
strength enables cost effective high performance
tower is much greater than the initial elastic and time
structural systems while providing a positive
dependant shortening of the axially loaded round timber.
contribution to a sustainable environment.

3.1 TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS

Tripod towers up to 40m in height have been designed
for tropical cyclone conditions using round wood
machined to a constant diameter. Challenges in
designing splice connections in tower leg members for
the high axial tension forces that develop led to earlier
work by Morris et al [3] in developing an annular
grooved sleeve connection. Tests at the University of
Auckland demonstrated the ability of these connections
to develop the full characteristic strength of round timber
members (Figure 4).

Figure 5: Post-tensioned hollow core timber for

telecommunication tower: Schematic (courtesy of TTT)
 (a)
Figure 7: Conventional solid timber piles standing ready
for driving. (courtesy of TTT)

Pile driving in materials comprised of silts, sands and

gravels is more difficult and water jetting is a technique
that has been employed [4]. Typically water jets are
attached to the pile base and fed by pressurised water
pipes strapped to the sides of the pile (Figure 8a).
Practical difficulties associated with this procedure
include: damage to the water feed lines and jet tips;
difficulty in maintaining even jetting pressures resulting
in inaccurate driving alignment.

Hollow cored timber piles give the ability to provide a

single water jet discharging at the centre of the pile base
eliminating feed line damage, uneven jetting and
significantly reducing problems of pile alignment.
Stabilisation of disturbed material at the pile base and
cementing of granular founding strata can be done by
pressure injection of cement grout (Figure 8b). A
vibration driven and water jetted cored timber test pile is
illustrated in Figure 9.
(b)

Figure 6: Post-tensioned hollow core timber for

telecommunication towers: Connection details a) Splice
and b) Top anchorage.

3.2 PILED FOUNDATIONS

There is a long history of timber piled foundations
(Figure 7), either driven or concrete encased in pre-bored
holes.
Where ground conditions permit easy driving in a
cohesive material, pile resistance is a combination of end
bearing and skin friction. In this case the advantage of a
cored timber pile could simply be the improved
durability resulting from full preservative penetration
(refer to section 2.3). However reinforcing bars grouted
into the hollow core can provide effective ties into
ground level foundation systems or enable anchorage for
(a) (b)
rods used in post-tensioned super structures. For very
deep piles requiring pile sections to be spliced an
internal steel sleeve can be used to maintain alignment of Figure 8: Pile water jetting schematic
the sections with deformed reinforcing grouted into the
cavity to provide tension continuity in the event of uplift.

Figure 9: Water jetted vibration driven cored timber pile.
There are also possibilities for concrete encased timber
piles. A cored pile could be placed in a pre-drilled hole
and used as a tremie, where concrete is to be placed
below water level.
3.3 BUILDING PLATFORMS AND FLOORS
An elevated road platform protecting a tidal mangrove
reserve and capable of supporting normal highway
vehicle loading, was developed using machined logs as
illustrated in Figure 10. The construction elements
included driven timber piles supporting round header
beams with round timber joists and a nail laminated mill
floor diaphragm deck.
Figure 10: Construction platform for vehicle loading
Similar systems could be employed for constructing
ground floors in buildings where ground conditions are
poor or liquefaction is likely under earthquake induced
ground motion.
Intermediate floors within a building have been designed
using round timber members. Figure 11 shows a timber
concrete composite floor spanning 5 metres and
designed for 5.0kPa live load and a hour fire
resistance rating. The floor was constructed using
150mm diameter machined timber rounds shear keyed to
a poured concrete topping with 55mm minimum
concrete thickness. The floor has demonstrated good in-
service dynamic and acoustic performance, although no
actual STC measurements have been taken.
Figure 11: Composite timber concrete floor using 150mm
diameter machined round timbers (Manukau City Baptist
Church mlb Consulting Engineers)
Further work is being done to develop dry floor
assemblies with reduced mass to provide good floor
dynamics and reduced seismic demand. By eliminating
the concrete slab and consequent wet trades, building
construction time can also be reduced.
3.4 STRUCTURAL FRAMES
3.4.1 Roof Structures
Economical large span truss and space frame roof
structures using cored round timbers are possible by
optimising the inherent stability of round sections.
Connections between members can be concealed by
using internal tubular steel sleeves. Where high tension
forces are required to be transferred through joints post-
tensioned steel rods or tendons within the hollow core
are proposed.
The design of frames for light industrial roofs in regions
of high wind is typically governed by wind uplift forces.
For truss type structures the stability of the bottom chord
under compression load is a design consideration that is
readily accommodated by using circular members.
3.4.2 Commercial Building Frames
Recent doctoral research by Newcombe [5] which
focuses on performance-based seismic design of post-
tensioned timber structural systems has enabled the
development of multi-storey timber framed buildings.
Solid timber construction has the advantage of high
strength to weight ratio resulting in structures of reduced
mass. A timber structural system, compared with
conventional materials used in multi-storey construction
within New Zealand, provides an approximate 50%
reduction in building mass. This has a direct impact on
foundation design and is of particular advantage when
foundation settlement is an issue. Seismic demand is
also directly affected since building response to ground
motion is a function of building mass.
Round timbers with the core removed provide an ideal
element for constructing post tensioned building frames.
A six storey post-tensioned frame building on an 8.4m
grid pattern is under development for use in all seismic
zones in New Zealand (Figure 12). Tensioning rods are
concealed within the members and protected from the
effects of climate variation and potential fire damage.
Connection details, utilizing the natural properties of
timber, have been designed to dissipate seismic energy,
thereby reducing building lateral accelerations while still
confining inter-storey drifts to acceptable code levels for
both serviceability and ultimate limit state events.
Timber treatment levels can be chosen to reflect the
degree of decay hazard expected, from a high hazard
ground contact environment to low hazard interior
frames.
Structural frames utilising both grouted or un-grouted
post tensioned systems can provide economical and
robust building systems. Steel post-tensioning elements
encased within timber rounds are effectively protected
from the effects of fire and corrosive environments.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am grateful to John Reelick, the Director of TTT
Products Ltd, who has supplied data and photographs for
this paper.
REFERENCES
[1] Timber Design Guide, edited by A.H Buchanan,
New Zealand Timber Industry Federation,
Christchurch, 2008
[2] New Zealand Standard NZS 3640:2003: Chemical
Preservation of Round and Sawn Timber
[3] Morris, Batchelar, and Teh: Full strength round
timber pole connection using annular grooves.
Proceedings 10th World Conference on Timber
Engineering Miyazaki. 2008
[4] FM 5-134: Pile construction, Field manual No. 5-
134, Department of the Army, Washington DC,
April 1985
[5] Newcombe Michael P, Seismic Design of Post-
Tensioned Timber Frame and Wall Buildings (in
print). Doctoral Thesis, University of Canterbury,
2012

Figure 12: Six storey timber building under development

for Auckland and Christchurch seismic and wind regions

4 CONCLUSIONS
Cored pinus radiata logs, compared to solid logs, give
significant savings in kiln drying and preservative
treatment time and energy consumption.

The durability of treated members is improved through

100% treatment penetration, and more cost efficient
transportation is achieved due to the reduced weight of
cored members.

Significant advances are possible in piling applications

using water jetting, and grouting techniques can be
employed. Enhancement of pile end bearing capacity is
possible by injection grouting and cementing founding
strata at the base of the pile. For deep piled foundations
cored rounds enable easy splicing of pile sections.