Manual on the Use of Timber in Coastal and River Engineering

Abstract

This informative manual has been designed to provide guidance on the principal issues surrounding the use of timber in coastal and river engineering. For centuries timber has traditionally been used for the construction of a wide range of coastal and river structures including: groynes, jetties, lock gates, navigation aids and riverbank protection. It is an attractive choice of construction material because it is renewable, is easy to use, repair and recycle, has a high strength/weight ratio and is visually appealing. Many timbers used in coastal and river engineering are also highly durable, resisting abrasion and tolerating impacts well. If timber is to be used, its potential drawbacks must also be addressed. These include variability in its properties, limited availability of large, strong and durable species in Europe and the limited renewability of many of the durable tropical hardwood species. Despite these limitations, when recycled or obtained from sustainably managed forests, timber has the potential to be an environmentally responsible choice of material. This manual addresses all of these issues by providing: An introduction to the use and properties of timber; A framework for responsible selection and procurement of timber materials; Discussion of design and construction issues and maintenance practices; Documentation of the most widely used types of structures; Primarily intended for practising engineers, this manual will also be a useful reference for students, procurement specialists and the general reader interested in the use of timber in coastal and river environments. Contents: Introduction; Overview of the use of timber in coastal and river engineering; The natural characteristics of wood - a brief introduction style; Properties of processed timber; Responsible procurement of timber; Design process; Design and construction issues; Structure specific guidance; Monitoring and assessment of timber structures; Maintenance, repair and enhancement of timber structures guidance structures; References; Bibliography; Appendices.