Structural and Connecting Elements of Wooden Structures: Fid-Bau Portal

Structural and Connecting Elements of Wooden Structures

Švajlenka, Jozef / Pošiváková, Terézia

Structural elements, whether wooden or based on wood, are key for the construction of wooden structures of various types of buildings. The use of individual wooden elements is mainly determined by the type of wood, its quality, and its mechanical properties. Of course, the construction systems of wood-based buildings have their own specifics, especially regarding quality requirements and predictability of static but also other properties of the final products. Nowadays, various agglomerated composite elements, which have higher quality and more reliable properties, are beginning to be promoted for the construction of modern buildings. They are mainly KVH, BSH prisms, or CLT panels. The connection is most often made by basic carpentry ties and joints supplemented with various anchor bolts and angles, of course depending on the structural system and the need for incorporation in the structures. These connecting elements can also be designed so that they are hidden and do not burden the appearance of the structure. In addition to traditional carpentry joints, glues, screws, and special metal fasteners are also used to join wood. The selection of suitable fasteners depends on the type of wooden structures and the required strength and appearance of the joint. An essential moment in this context is the fulfilment of fire resistance, load-bearing capacity, stability, and appearance. Buildings based on wood can be considered rather fragile or sensitive due to the undesirable effects of moisture and various pests. In this regard, it is appropriate to pay particular attention to structural protection of the structure and secondary chemical protection against unwanted pests.