NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF HARDWOOD TIMBER BEAMS REINFORCED WITH STEEL PLATE SCREWED

Abstract

– There are several technologies to recover and strengthen timber structures. Two usual alternatives are: the use of steel plates screwed and carbon fi ber mats glued with epoxy adhesive. A gap was observed in the literature regarding the study of reinforcement in hardwood timber beams with cross-section loss, commonly found in attacks by biotic or abiotic agents. This study aimed to analyze the fl exural stiff ness recovery capacity of steel plate screwed to a timber beam with diff erent cross-sectional losses, with a special interest in the eff ect caused by diff erent bolt arrangements. The results were compared with simulations made using a carbon fi ber mat (CF). It was possible to observe that, despite presenting lower effi ciency than the CD, the use of steel plate screwed could return the initial stiff ness in some models, and the specifi cation of the bolts is relevant in obtaining the results.