Symposium Verbundwerkstoffe und Werkstoffverbunde - Verbund 2022, Leoben

ABSTRACT

Wood in Top Form - New Perspectives in Wood Construction

Peer Haller

Institute of Steel and Timber Construction

Faculty of Civil Engineering

Technische Universität Dresden

D-01062 Dresden

E-mail: peer.haller@tu-dresden.de

Moulded wood profiles from solid wood are novel structural elements for architecture, civil and mechanical engineering. The idea is based on wood as a cellular material that undergoes large deformations when heated and compressed. With the help of moisture and temperature the deformation can be released and used for shaping.

The presentation will show the thermo-hygromechanical behaviour of wood and its particularities such as recovery when moistened and fixation when dried. For structural use wooden tubes can optionally be reinforced with technical fibres and textiles from glass, aramid and carbon.

Within this research particular attention is paid to the use of soft and hard wood such as beech. It could be shown that this specie is suitable for moulding perpendicular to the grain. Consequences regarding sylviculture and environment are being discussed.

Experimental test results of components and connections will be presented as well as environmental impact assessments.

Structural tubes showed outstanding load bearing capacities. Special applications from the building sector and plant engineering such as solar and wind power stations are also dealt with. Within the project BEECHPOLE, a lightning pole is being developed. The study of its impact behaviour on a test track with a car showed excellent results regarding the frangibility criteria. 

The same physical principles are used for the shaping of sandwich cores from wood, especially Balsa. This approach uses end grain panels from bi-axially compressed wood that allow the manufacturing of double curved shells. In addition with high performance fibres one obtains sandwich elements with a high potential in lightweight design.

Dresden, November 27th, 2021                Professor Peer Haller