FE-assisted structural timber design

FE-assisted structural timber design

(5-10-minute survey)
The objective of this survey is to get an overview on the use of finite-element (FE) models for structural analysis in structural engineering design practice.

The target audience of this questionnaire are structural engineers involved in the design of timber structures.

The results will be used to develop guidelines on FE modelling for structural timber design.

This survey was designed to be answered in 5-10 minutes.

Thank you in advance for your answers!

Janusch Töpler, Pedro Palma, Michael Schweigler, Romain Lemaître, Daniele Casagrande, and José Manuel Cabrero.
1. Professional experience
Country*
Company / institute / university
Years of experience*
How often do you design timber structures ?*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
How often do you design steel structures ?*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
How often do you design concrete structures ?*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
2. Designed timber structures and used materials
Main structural design objects

Single-family housesMulti-storey buildings up to 6 storeys (approx. 18 m)Multi-storey buildings higher than 6 storeysSmall/medium-span halls (e.g. industrial, sports or storage halls)Medium/large-span hallsBridgesOther ...
Most common structural materials

Solid timberGlued-laminated timber (GLT)Cross-laminated timber (CLT) walls and floorsLaminated veneer lumber (LVL)Other ...
Most common structural elements

Beams / columnsFloor panelsWall panelsTrussesOther ...
Most common connections

Carpentry connections (a)Timber-to-timber with dowel-type fasteners (b)Steel-to-timber with dowel-type fasteners (c)Proprietary systems (e.g. tongue and groove plates) (d)Other ...
Most common fasteners

Dowels (a)Bolts (b)Nails (c)Screws (d)Bonded/glued-in rods (e)Staples (f)Punched metal plate fasteners (g)Toothed-plate connectors (h)Split rings and shear plate connectors (i)Other ...
3. Structural analysis software
Most used FE program*

AbaqusACORDAdinaCubusETABSFEM-DesignGiD+OpenSeesGSEideCADmidasNextFEMOpenSeesPerform3DPROKONRAMRFEMRISARobotRSTABSAFISAP 2000SCIASeismoStructS-FRAMESkyCivSOFiSTiKSPACE GASSSTAADS-TIMBERSTKOStrand7Other ...
Second most used FE program
4. Types of structural models
How often do you use the following types of models?
Linear-elastic (LA)*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
Geometrically non-linear / 2nd order theory (GNA, GNIA)*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
Materially non-linear (MNA, GNMIA), e.g. "push-over"*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
Dynamic*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
Other type of model
5. Aspects of the design of timber structures that you have difficulty modelling
Answer only if you have sometimes/often tried to model these aspects.
Creep

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Non-linear behaviour

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Cyclic / dynamic behaviour

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Fire behaviour

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Hybrid structures (different creep-, moisture-, and temperature-dependent behaviours of timber and other materials)

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Fatigue

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Other topic(s)
6. Modelling of structural timber connections
6.1 Regarding timber connections between linear elements (e.g. beams, columns, diagonals in a truss, etc.), how often do you use the following types of models?
Hinged or rigid*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
Linear-elastic springs*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
Non-linear springs*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
Other type of model
How do you determine the connection stiffness and other relevant connection properties?

EN 1995‑1‑1 Eurocode 5ANSI/AWC NDSSIA 265ETA or other documentation made available by the producerTestingOther ...
6.2 Regarding timber connections between planar elements (e.g. walls, floors, etc.), how often do you use the following types of models?
Hinged or rigid*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
Linear-elastic springs*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
Non-linear springs*

1

2

3

4

1 is Never, 4 is Very often
Other type of model
How do you determine the connection stiffness and other relevant connection properties?

EN 1995‑1‑1 Eurocode 5ANSI/AWC NDSSIA 265ETA or other documentation made available by the producerTestingOther ...
6.3 Main problems when designing timber connections
What are the main problems when designing timber connections?

Connection stiffnessLoad distribution between fastenersLoad distribution between timber membersEquations of European Yield ModelEmbedment strength of composite materialsRope effectConnections in hybrid structures (e.g. timber-to-concrete, …)Connections under combined and/or complex loadingReinforcementOther ...
6.4 Aspects of the design of timber connections that you have difficulty modelling

(answer only if you have sometimes/often tried to model these aspects)
Creep

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Non-linear behaviour

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Cyclic / dynamic behaviour

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Fire behaviour

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Different creep-, moisture-, and temperature-dependent behaviours of timber and other materials

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Fatigue

1

2

3

4

1 is Easy, 4 is Difficult
Other topic(s)
6.5 Structural fire design of timber connections
How do you model timber connections in fire?

Same as for normal temperature (and then compare the internal forces with the reduced load-carrying capacity after R minutes)Implement some time/temperature-dependency in the model used for design at normal temperatureUsing separate advanced heat-transfer models of the connections to check the temperature distribution after R minutesUsing separate advanced thermal-mechanical models of the connectionsOther ...
7. What features you think are missing in current FE design programs or should be regulated more clearly
Can be specific types of structural components (e.g. stress-laminated timber decks), model parameters (e.g. friction, shear deflections of CLT plates), types of analyses (e.g. reduced cross sections for structural fire design), evaluation of results (e.g. singularities), connection with CAD/BIM programs, model templates, etc.
Missing feature 1
Missing feature 2
Missing feature 3
Additional comments/info

0/1200
8. Thank you!
Additional general comments/info

0/1200
9. Subscribe for updates

Your contact info will not be shared, will only be used to send you updates about the development of the FE guidelines, and will afterwards be deleted.
Would you like to receive updates on the FE guidelines?

Yes
Name

First NameLast Name
Email
example@example.com
Affiliation

Company / institute / universityCountry
Should be Empty:

FE-assisted structural timber design

1. Professional experience

2. Designed timber structures and used materials

3. Structural analysis software

4. Types of structural models

5. Aspects of the design of timber structures that you have difficulty modelling

6. Modelling of structural timber connections

7. What features you think are missing in current FE design programs or should be regulated more clearly

8. Thank you!

9. Subscribe for updates