SEMINAR IZ KONSTRUKCIJ št. 82

 

V A B I L O

 

 

Dr. Massimo Fragiacomo

Senior Lecturer, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

 

 Use of timber and engineered materials for multi-storey buildings

 

Abstract:

Timber is a natural material characterized by many advantages such as high strength-to-weight ratio, particularly important for buildings in earthquake-prone areas, sustainability, and aesthetic appearance. However, the inherent low ductility, anisotropic behaviour, and uncertainty of mechanical properties sometimes prevent a more extensive use in structural engineering. In order to improve the reliability, engineered materials such as Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) and plywood have been developed and are commonly used in many countries of the world such as Northern Europe, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand.

 

The seminar will present an overview on the use of timber and engineered materials for multi-storey timber buildings. Different solutions for the vertical structures, such as shear walls and moment resisting frames, and the floors, such as traditional floors, stress skin panels, and concrete-timber composite systems will be presented. The lateral resistance of the three dimensional structure against the earthquake and the need for achieving a diaphragm action on every floor will be discussed. The possibility of combining timber structures with bracing systems made of steel and/or concrete will also be highlighted. Finally, the results of some long-term and failure tests performed on concrete-timber composite structures will be presented, along with some quasi-static tests currently ongoing at the University of Canterbury on beam-to-columns subassemblies prestressed with unbonded tendons.

 

Massimo Fragiacomo currently holds the position of Senior Lecturer at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, where he teaches Timber Engineering and Design Studio 1 at the Faculty of Engineering. Previously he had worked for six years at the University of Trieste, Italy, as Research Engineer where he thought Theory and design of steel constructions at the Faculty of Architecture. His past work experiences include a 6-month period at the Building Research Establishment, U.K., and 1.5 months at Colorado State University, USA, mainly working on timber-concrete composite structures. He had also worked for five years as practicing engineers at the Local Council of Trieste, Italy.

 

He is author of 16 papers published on International Journals and about 50 papers published on National and International Conferences. His main areas of expertise include Timber Engineering, Timber-concrete composite structures, Steel-concrete composite structures, FE modeling, Earthquake engineering, and Seismic performance of steel and timber structures. He has been Principal Investigator in a number of national and international projects.

 

Predavanje bo

 

v   p e t e k, dne 14. 4. 2006 ob 11:00 v svečani dvorani FGG, Jamova 2.

 

 

 

Ljubljana, 6. 4. 2006                                                                prof. dr. Matej Fischinger, l.r.