Feasibility investigation of the shear repair of timber stringers with horizontal splits

Abstract

Typical timber stringers were taken from service and examined to identify horizontal split damage. Several methods for rapidly repairing the horizontal splits in the timber stringers were employed, including fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) plates attached to the vertical sides of the stringers with lag screws. Six stringers with horizontal splits were repaired with approximately 62% increase of the residual load capacity. It was proven that the methods examined in this study are feasible to repair timber stringers with horizontal splits.