Comparison of Different Construction Methods for Multi‐Storey Timber Buildings

Abstract

In this master thesis, different timber materials and construction methods are examined concern‐ing the application in multi‐storey timber buildings. Although wood as a construction material has many advantages, it is today only used very little for larger constructions, concrete and steel dominate the building industry. Planners and engi‐neers are often lacking necessary expertise to utilise timber in a modern, effective way. In order to promote the development of modern, efficient multi‐storey timber buildings, the goal of this master thesis is to contribute to a better understanding of the wood’s characteristic prop‐erties and the behaviour of timber in larger engineering structures. For this purpose, first a literature research has been conducted to gather technical knowledge about modern timber methods. It can be concluded that, although wood as a natural material has some unfavourable properties, with an appropriate design, those problems can be overcome. Modern engineered wood products improve the basic material’s properties noticeable and are important especially for multi‐storey timber buildings. Secondly, a design has been carried out for three different structural variants of the same existing multi‐storey timber building. By means of this design, general conclusions could be made con‐cerning the suitability of those different construction methods. Frame constructions are very ef‐fective for providing stability for the overall structure. Prefabricated methods like panel construc‐tions have economic advantages, should, however, only be used in combination with other meth‐ods for larger timber structures. Mass timber methods are very well suited for multi‐storey timber buildings and will supposedly play an important role in the future. The main outcome of this master thesis is that there are no large hindrances for the use of wood in multi‐storey buildings today and that timber structures still have much unused potential.