University of Trento, Faculty of Engineering

Department of Mechanical and Structural Engineering

The Doctoral School in Engineering of Civil and Mechanical Structural Systems

Monographic course Advances in Timber Engineering

Dr. Massimo Fragiacomo

Associate Professor, Faculty of Architecture of Alghero, University of Sassari, Italy, Email:
fragiacomo@uniss.it

Summary: the aim of the course is to make the students familiar with the use of timber in
structural engineering and, at the same time, to show some possible new applications of timber in
multi-storey buildings. After teaching the basics of wood as a construction material, the new
engineered materials such as glue-laminated timber, Laminated Veneer Lumber and Plywood
will be introduced. The design process of a timber structure will then be described including the
design of nailed and bolted connections. Afterwards, the use of timber for vertical members in
multi-storey buildings will be explained. Particular emphasis will be given to the three
dimensional resistance of the building against lateral actions, by introducing the concepts of ply
shear wall and diaphragm action. Both elastic and ductile design of the building against
seismic action will be discussed. Innovative systems for seismic resistant multi-storey buildings
under development in Europe and New Zealand will be introduced and discussed. Finally, the
design of traditional and innovative floor systems such as stressed skin panels and concrete-
timber composites will be taught.

Wednesday Thursday Friday

9:00-9:50 Introduction Review of Design process of Innovative multi-storey
eng. properties of timber timber connections buildings
10:00-10:50 Review of engineering Design process of Stress skin panel floors
properties of timber timber connections
11:00-11:50 Review of eng. Prop. Of Conceptual design of Concrete-timber composite
timber Glulam and multi-storey buildings floors
cross-laminated timber
12:00-12:50 Glulam and cross-
Ply shear wall multi- Concrete-timber composite
laminated timber storey buildings floors
13:00-13:50 - - (1 spare hour for possible
delay, very likely)
14:00-14:50 LVL and plywood Ply shear wall multi- -
storey buildings
15:00-15:50 Design process of timber Ply shear wall multi- -
members storey buildings
Traditional floors
16:00-16:50 Design process of timber Traditional floors -
members
17:00-17:50 Design of plywood Innovative multi-storey -
members buildings