Multi-criteria assessment of a high-performance glulam through numerical simulation

Abstract

Timber-concrete structures have been developed as sustainable solutions to face current environmental challenges. This paper aims to present a numerical method for the analysis of the mechanical behaviour of glued laminated wood beams (Glulam) reinforced with ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). For this purpose, three series of a proposed Glulam-UHPFRC (HP-Glulam) beams with different slenderness ratio values, percentage, and position reinforcement under 4-point flexural tests were simulated by the finite element software Ansys®. The orthotropic linear elastic model was assigned to the Glulam, whilst to model the tensile plastic behaviour of UHPFRC the Cast Iron Model was adopted; this last model is based on grey cast iron. The numerical model results were validated with experimental tests from the literature. The Glulam beams increased their load capacity by up to 20 % with a cross-section composed of 11.36 % UHPFRC. The Series C, reinforced with a layer of UHPFRC at the top, demonstrated a greater increase in its flexural properties; therefore, the slender beams (span/depth = 13.16) were taken for a comparative analysis with concrete and steel beams. With the goal to propose a tool for building designers, estimation of costs and embodied energy generated during the production of materials were assessed too. Results show that HP-Glulam beams is a potential substitute for frequently used concrete beams, with a production cost up to 56.16 % lower and up to 41.90 kgCO2e less embedded carbon.