Creep of GLT Beams during Four-Point Bending Test

Abstract

The present work is concerned with the evaluation of creep deformation developed during the four-point bending test of glued laminated timber beams. In particular, three deflections (at the mid-span of the beam, and below the points of load application) were recorded for each tested beam. The time variation of deflections at 110 loading levels was examined in details for the set of five beams. It can be seen that the effect of creep covers about 10 – 20% of the overall strain. To proceed with numerical simulations requires, however, building first a reliable computational model that agrees well with purely elastic response of the beam. Thus additional measurements were carried out assuming a rather short hold period to eliminate the creep effects. The results were then compared with numerical simulations promoting the computational model to be used in more advanced simulations incorporating a suitable rheological model.