Author(s)

Y. Al-Qaryouti, J. M. Gattas, R. Shi, L. McCann

Abstract

A rise in digital fabrication technologies has led to numerous recent advances in the design and manufacture of woodworking joints. Computational generative processes can be used to create a part with integral mechanical attachments for friction-fit, adhesion-less connections between parts. These processes can additionally create machine code for production of such parts on computer-numerically controlled (CNC) cutters. This paper investigates such computational processes for digital design and manufacture of timber thin-walled structural sections. Assembly procedures are first presented for rectangular hollow sections and I-sections, with a series of timber prototypes produced to demonstrate their CNC production. An experimental analysis on square hollow sections under uniaxial compressive loading is then conducted. Tight fit digitally-fabricated sections are seen to possess a structural capacity approaching that of the glued sections. Prototypes with different assembly tolerances and grain directions produce a range of novel failure modes and give insight into potential failure paths of digitally-fabricated timber sections.

Keywords

digital fabrication, timber engineering, thin-walled sections