Author(s)

M. Premrov & P. Dobrila

Abstract

This paper provides an experimental analysis of timber-framed walls, coated with carbon fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRP) strengthened fibre-plaster boards, usually used as main bearing capacity elements in the construction of prefabricated timber structures. The tensile strength of the boards is lower than the compressive one and essentially lower than the strength of the timber frame, therefore it is convenient to strengthen boards in their tensile diagonal direction with high-strength materials in order to gain a higher capacity. It has been shown that the inclusion of CFRP diagonal strip reinforcement on the load-carrying capacity can be quite high and that it is maximized when the carbon strips are connected to the timber frame. On the other hand, the ductility itself was not significantly improved. The test samples proved an important distinction in behaviour in timber frame-fibreboard connecting area, dependant on the boundary conditions between inserted CFRP strips and timber frame. Keywords: timber, frame walls, CFRP, fibre-plaster boards, experiments. 1 Introduction There is an increasing tendency worldwide toward building multi-level prefabricated timber structures with timber-framed walls as the main bearing capacity elements. Their load-carrying capacity becomes critical, especially when taller structures are subjected to heavy horizontal forces, particulary with structures located in seismic and windy areas. In this case it is sometimes necessary to reinforce the walls. The treated wall is a composite element consisting of framed panels made from sheets of board-material fixed by mechanical fasteners to one or both sides of the timber frame (Figure 1). There are many types of panel products available which may have some structural

Keywords

timber, frame walls, CFRP, fibre-plaster boards, experiments.