Structural Use of Timber
| The Structural Use of Timber in Timber Framed Buildings | Civil Engineering Construction 1 | | Adam Roberts | 13/12/2011 |
|
Table of Contents The History of Timber Framed Construction 1 Modern Timber Frame Construction 2 Multi Storey Timber Frame Construction 5 Benefits and Drawbacks of Timber Framed Construction 7 References 8
The History of Timber Framed Construction
Timber framed construction has been “used in Europe and Asia since the 9th century” (Wikipedia, 2011) . Timber framed construction was by far the most common method of construction in these continents due to the vast amount of timber that was readily available.
Traditionally, the construction of timber framed buildings relied heavily upon pegged mortise and tenon joints, these joints were incredibly strong and are still used in traditional construction/renovation today (however glue is now applied to joint in order to give additional strength).
The image opposite shows a completed pillar (under load) with two pegged mortise and tenon joints.
One of the earliest forms of timber frame construction was known as cruck construction, a cruck-frame consists of a pair of cuved timbers which are known as the cruck blades, these are often cut from the same tree by cutting right down the middle of the trunk, this means that whatever the shape (twist/bend) the pair will be identical. A collar/tie beam would sometimes be added in order to brace the frame and to stop it from bending/twisting. The cruck frame is the key element in cruck construction as the frame carries the whole load directly to the ground. “This type of construction continued until the early part of the 18th Century in the North of England” (Chiltern Open Air Museum, n.d.) as it was a tried and tested technique. Below is an image which demonstrates how a cruck frame building is constructed.
Modern Timber Frame Construction
There are currently two main (mainstream) methods of timber frame
|
Table of Contents The History of Timber Framed Construction 1 Modern Timber Frame Construction 2 Multi Storey Timber Frame Construction 5 Benefits and Drawbacks of Timber Framed Construction 7 References 8
The History of Timber Framed Construction
Timber framed construction has been “used in Europe and Asia since the 9th century” (Wikipedia, 2011) . Timber framed construction was by far the most common method of construction in these continents due to the vast amount of timber that was readily available.
Traditionally, the construction of timber framed buildings relied heavily upon pegged mortise and tenon joints, these joints were incredibly strong and are still used in traditional construction/renovation today (however glue is now applied to joint in order to give additional strength).
The image opposite shows a completed pillar (under load) with two pegged mortise and tenon joints.
One of the earliest forms of timber frame construction was known as cruck construction, a cruck-frame consists of a pair of cuved timbers which are known as the cruck blades, these are often cut from the same tree by cutting right down the middle of the trunk, this means that whatever the shape (twist/bend) the pair will be identical. A collar/tie beam would sometimes be added in order to brace the frame and to stop it from bending/twisting. The cruck frame is the key element in cruck construction as the frame carries the whole load directly to the ground. “This type of construction continued until the early part of the 18th Century in the North of England” (Chiltern Open Air Museum, n.d.) as it was a tried and tested technique. Below is an image which demonstrates how a cruck frame building is constructed.
Modern Timber Frame Construction
There are currently two main (mainstream) methods of timber frame
References: Brinkley, M., 2006. The Housebuilder 's Bible. 7th ed. Huntingdon: Ovolo Publishing. Chudley & Greeno, 2006. Building Construction Manual. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Timber & Sustainable Building, 2010. Multi-Storey Marvel. [Online] Available at: http://www.timber-building.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/624/Multi-storey_marvel.html Wikipedia, 2011. Natural Building. [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_building#Timber_frame