Selection of appropriate solid wood species for bending-active structures

Abstract

Bending-active design is an approach based on bending and then fixing initially planar beams or shell parts within elastic displacement limits; grid shell, which stand out with their light, flexible and organic properties, are produced with this approach. In the production under consideration, material losses also occur in bending due to some missing criteria and limited experimental studies on the bending of the structural member. In this study, it is focused on the applicability of wooden grid shell in Turkiye. First, the sizing and detailing knowledge of worldwide applications were determined, and then the characteristics of the native wood types were investigated. In this scope, the tree species and proper wood types in Turkiye for this process were studied through detailed data analysis. From the current literature, the physical and mechanical characteristics of native wood species in Turkiye were tabulated. The radii of curvature not available in the national literature were calculated and the relationships of the parameters among the density, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, cost, production quantity parameters were investigated. This research is the first study in the literature on the applicability of grid shell structures in Turkiye to classify tree species and to determine and evaluate suitable wood types with analytical methods. From the evaluations, beech, larch and oak, which are common in our country and have higher flexural strength compared to their examples in Europe; it was concluded that the most proper tree species in terms of supply, strength, and bendability for grid shell production. It is predicted that the results of the analysis will encourage the wood sector for the construction of this type of structural systems.