We investigate the load-bearing capacity of notched wooden beams

CTU UCEEB is collaborating with the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITAM) of the CAS and the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology of Mendel University in Brno to develop a procedure for estimating the load capacity of notched timber members under general loading using experimental and numerical methods. The joint project will be completed by the end of 2023 and all indications are that the planned research objectives will be met and can be put to practical use in the future.

The project "Experimental and Numerical Estimation of Notch Load Capacity in Structural Timber Beams in General Locations Using LEFM" is already in its third year at the CTU UCEEB, the Institute of Structural Timber of the CAS and the Mendel University in Brno. The aim is to develop a method useful for estimating the load capacity of notched timber elements under general stress using numerical methods.

In the first year, we focused on determining the material fracture properties of spruce wood. In the last year and in the current year, we mainly tested beams of real size (25 cm height, 6 m length) with notches at different locations. The main results of the project are due to the nature of the research impact publications, but it is important that this rather complex computational method is already working in pilot mode, which is a promise for its future use in practice.

The project was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic under registration number GA21-29389S.