WOOD RESEARCH Volume 61, Number 4, 2016
Pavla Kotásková, Zdeňka Havířová, Milan Šmak, and Bohumil Straka

Log buildings from the perspective of the current requirements

This contribution focuses on the verification of temperature and moisture content conditions inside perimeter walls of timber buildings as regards the temperature and humidity requirements in buildings intended for permanent residence. We assessed: a simple perimeter wall of solid timber, a wall of glued BSH profiles, a wall of an existing log building with additional thermal insulation in two options, and a sandwich log wall with a layer of embedded insulation. This study contrasts theoretical calculations with the values measured in a real buildings. The effect of the humidity changes on the strength and stability of dowelled joints is analysed.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 61, Number 4, 2016
Milan Šmak, Jan Barnat, Bohumil Straka, Pavla Kotásková, and Zdeňka Havířová

Dowelled joints in timber structures experiment–design–realization

The paper describes experimental research in the real behaviour of connections and its application to the design and realization of new types of timber structures. According to the connection type, primarily dowelled joints with slotted-in steel plates made from solid and glulam timber have been examined. A vital factor in designing joints of timber structures is respecting wood properties related to its changes in humidity. It is namely the case of strength changes as well as volume changes in particular directions. The experimental tests have been used to evaluate the influence of material strength, diameter and dowel number on the load-bearing capacity of joints. Substantial strengthening of joint’s load-bearing capacity can be attained by eliminating transverse tensile stresses in the region of dowels. Thus the conclusions derived from the experimental research and from the real behaviour have been implemented by the authors to develop new types of timber structures.