EFFECTIVE MATERIAL UTILIZATION IN TIMBER INDUSTRY: PROBLEM OF GLUED THIN-WEBBED BEAMS

Dramatic development of digital computation allows for the probabilistic assessment of structural integrity and the derivation of the design values for the relevant variables to meet a predefined level of performance when inherent variability is accounted for. In this paper, a probability-based method useful for economic proportioning of the dimensions of a structural element with uncertain material and geometrical properties under uncertain action is developed and demonstrated for a glued laminated thin-webbed timber beam composed of glulam flanges and plywood web. The proposed method enables a comparative analysis of the effective material utilization in the construction of glued thin-webbed timber beams.