Timber frames — Design

Good use of wood in structural engineering is only possible if we take into account, at all levels, its most fundamental characteristic: extremely pronounced anisotropy. In practice, this means that in many cases, wood is considered to be made of two different materials, whose behavior must be examined successively. These differences exist, albeit to varying degrees, for each of the physical or mechanical constants that the designer may have to use.

However, when designing a structure, it is essential to take into account certain physical or physicochemical properties likely to influence its operating conditions, safety and durability.