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

Other ...
Most common structural materials

Other ...
Most common structural elements

Other ...
Most common connections

Other ...
Most common fasteners

Other ...
3. Structural analysis software
Most used FE program

Other ...
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?

Other ...
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?

Other ...
6.3 Main problems when designing timber connections
What are the main problems when designing timber connections?

Other ...
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?

Other ...
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
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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