Pathology of wooden structures

Wooden structures have proven their ability to withstand the test of time, but not all of them have this privilege. According to statistics, wood structures account for only 3% of all construction claims. However, some unusual cases escape this analysis.

Whether it's a traditional frame, a lightweight frame or a glulam frame, errors in design, manufacture or installation, or exceptional and accidental circumstances, are the usual causes of pathology. Paradoxically, one of the main sources of wood-frame pathology is to be found in the calculation and design rules themselves.

The effects of transverse tension, scaling effects, loading duration effects, connection slip effects, self-bending effects... are underestimated, or even ignored, by the Calculation and Design Rules in force since 1971. These shortcomings have given rise to the unexpected genre of "regulatory claims".

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The detection of these anomalies prompted engineers, professionals and scientists to reflect on the new approach to wood materials developed within the European framework, which made it possible to correct the faulty construction or calculation provisions [1][14] .