Composite timber veneer-wrapped steel columns -- proof of concept through tests and numerical simulations

The qualities of timber as an environmentally friendly building material are increasingly being recognized, as its use may lead to several advantages, such as renewability and carbon sequestration. However, timber presents a number of inherent disadvantages in terms of structural performance, such as its reduced ductility and the comparative lack of strength which affects the sizing of structural elements. This is only partly addressed by the development of standardized wood-derived products, since the long-term deterioration of the mechanical properties may undermine the robustness and durability of the system. In order to overcome these issues, composite systems that combine steel with timber can represent a structurally effective solution, while promoting the use of both materials in construction. This paper presents a newly conceived steel-timber composite column consisting of a steel hollow section wrapped in various layers of veneer lumber. Whilst the use of structural steel allows the reduction of the dimensions of the cross-section compared to a pure timber column, the multiple outer veneer-lumber layers stabilize the inner thin-walled steel profile by restricting cross-sectional deformation and hindering potential local as well as global buckling. The planned experimental campaign and the fabrication process of the specimens are detailed in the paper while the results of preliminary numerical simulations are presented and discussed. The work was conducted in the frame of an applied research project to evaluate the potential of the proposed solution and it represents a contribution toward the development of hybrid structural solutions, maintaining steel construction at its core.

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