Composite timber/FRP elements: studying the combination of laminated timber and FRP

Existing research including pilot studies at Kingston University on solid timber and laminated timber (glulam) members strengthened with fibre reinforced polymers (FRPs) shows that there is a great potential for the future development of this field. Solid timber is one of the oldest materials in construction and there is an established methodology on its design and use. On the other hand as a newer product, glulam offers a wider design range of applications and better quality of the quality while maintaining the natural aesthetical feature of timber.

The issue of sustainability in the construction industry has accelerated the use of materials which are more sustainable and nature friendly. Two major factors could hinder the wider use of solid timber: the relatively small range of sections and the lower structural capacity compared with reinforced concrete structures. Thus introducing glulam could solve partly those two disadvantages by producing laminated members which are stronger and have a higher availability in required sections. The addition of FRP in the production of glulam would open opportunities to increase further and to a significant degree the capacity of the new products.

The aim of the project is to study the combination of laminated timber and FRP by carrying out extensive experimental programme and numerical modelling. The economical optimisation of the combination of the two materials for structural applications will follow, leading to a development of new composite sections combining sustainable features and structural integrity.