Optimization of Wood Structures

Jussi Jalkanen, D.Sc. (Tech)

Contents
Introduction Design of wood structures Structural optimization & wood structures Example 1: Double tapereted glulam beam optimization Example 2: King Post roof truss optimization Example 3: Glulam frame optimization Conclusions

Introduction
Modern timber structures are much more than a small log cottage.

Design of wood structures

Wood structures are: Strong and light. Brittle unless joints are proper designed. Safe in the case of fire. Made of renewable material. Wood is anisotropic material.

Material properties are significantly different in the direction of grain compared to other directions.

C24 solid timber Grain direction Perpendicular to grain

Tension [MPa] 14,0 0,5

Compression [MPa] 21,0 2,5

Bending [MPa] 24,0

Youngs module GPa 11,0 0,37

Wood is sensitive to moisture changes:

Longitudial shrinkage 0,1 0,3 %. Radial shrinkage 2,1 7,9 %. Tangential shrinkage 4,7 12,7 %.

Creep has to be taken into account sometimes.

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The design of wood structure should be done based on Eurocode 5 Design of timber structures: Part 1-1: General Common rules and rules for buildings. Part 1-2: General Structural fire design. Part 2: Bridges.

The size and strength of timber products are standardised.

C14, C18, C24, C30, C35 and C40

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Connections can be done using: Nails, screws and bolts. Steel plates and other steel special parts. Glue.

Structural optimization & wood structures

The efficiency of load bearing building structures can be improved by: Improving structural analysis and design. Using mathematical optimization theory. Optimization does not mean traditonal design based on: Intuition. Experience. Experiments. Structural optimization can be applied to wood structures basically the same way as for steel structures.
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Basic problem types in structural optimization: 1) Sizing optimization Unknown cross section dimensions.
a b

2) Shape optimization Unknown dimensions for structure.

h

3) Topology optimization Unknown number of members, holes etc.

The objective function can be: The volume of structure. The cost of structure (material + manufacturing).

Constraints take care the feasebility of structure: Deflection. Strength. Stability. Eurocode 5

Wood structure optimization problem is usually: Discrete or mixed-integer problem. Nonlinear. Constrained.

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Example 1: Double taperated glulam beam optimization

Puuinfo: Eurocode 5, Guide for industrial hall design.

beam with 1 ton crane

The idea is to minimize the volume of glulam beam so that all Eurocode 5 demands are fulfilled.

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Design variables in sizing problem: h1, hap ja b.

Bending stress on the tapered edge. Bending stress in the apex zone. Transverse tension in the apex zone. Combined transverse tension and shear in the apex zone. Shear stress near support. Lateral torsional buckling. Final deflection. Net final deflection.
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The type of optimization problem: Nonlinear and constrained problem with continuous design variables. Optimization algorithm is sequential quadratic programming, SQP. The initial guess is taken from Puuinfo example (1310 mm, 2200 mm ja 240 mm).

The improvement of the objective function (volume) during optimization:

1.21 1.2 Tilavuus [litraa] 1.19 1.18 1.17 1.16 1.15 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 analyysien lukumr 70 80 90 100 x 10
4

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The best found solution compared to the initial guess:

Initial guess 12004 1310 2200 240 93% 79% 73% 73% 77% 96% 91% 84% Best found 11569 1231 2382 225 97% 75% 92% 90% 86% 100% 100% 96%

Volume [l] Cross section heigh at support h1 [mm] Cross section heigh is the middle hap [mm] Cross section width b [mm] Utilization rates: - bending - bending in apex zone - transverse tension in apex zone - tarnsverse tension and shear in apex zone - shear - lateral torsional buckling - final deflection - net final deflection

The best found solution is 435 liters (3,6%) lighter than the initial guess. The initial guess was already rather good.

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Example 2: King Post roof truss optimization

22 meters long roof truss made of Kerto (laminated veneer lumber, LVL). The volume of truss is minimized so that Eurocode 5 demands are fullfilled.

Upper chord

byp

bap

Lower chord

bap
y

Vertical

bver hver
z

bap
y

hyp

hap
y z z

Shape and sizing optimization with design variables h, hyp, byp, hap, bap, hver, bver.
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Upper chord compression and bending. Upper chord shear. Upper chord buckling in plane. Upper chord buckling out of plane. Upper chord lateral torsional buckling. Lower chord shear. Lower chord tension and bending. Tension in vertical.

Joint design, fire, deflection or pressure perpendicular to crane on supports are not considerd.
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There are only certain Kerto beam sizes available.

height [mm] width [mm] 27 33 39 45 51 57 63 75 200

260

300

360

400

450

500

600

900

In priciple the height of truss h is continuous design variable. In practise heigh h can changed from 2 meters up to 5 meters 10 cm steps. The type of optimization problem: Nonlinear, mixed integer and constrained problem.

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Structural analysis is based on finite element method. Tabu Search (TS) is heuristic optimization algorithm. The improvement of the objective function (volume) during optimization:

4250 4200 Tilavuus [litraa] 4150 4100 4050 4000 3950 3900 0 100 200 300 400 500 FEM-analyysien lukumr 600 700 800

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The best found solution compared to the initial guess:

Volume [l] The height of truss h [mm] Upper chord cross section height hyp [mm] width byp [mm] Upper chord cross section height hap [mm] width bap [mm] Vertical cross section height hver [mm] width bver [mm] Utilization rates: - Upper chord shear - Upper chord compression and bending - Upper chord buckling out of plane - Upper chord buckling in plane - Upper chord lateral torsional buckling - Lower chord shear - Lower chord tension and bending - Tension in vertical Initial guess 4199 3600 900 75 600 75 260 45 60% 63% 59% 79% 98% 60% 72% 5% Best found result 3944 3100 900 75 500 75 200 27 60% 63% 61% 80% 98% 60% 99% 9%

The volume of truss was reduced 255 litres (6%). Utilization rates did not increase sigficantly.
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Example 3: Glulam frame optimization

The material cost of 28 m x 72 m industrial hall glulam frame should be minimized. Design variables: Number of frames n Beam h1, h2 and b Column hp and bp Secondary Kerto-S beam hk and bk

Constraints based on Eurocode 5.

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Available glulam beam widths are 90, 115, 140, 165, 190, 215, 240 and 265 mm. Only certain sizes available for Kerto-S beams.
height [mm] width [mm] 27 33 39 45 51 57 63 75 200

260

300

360

400

450

500

600

900

Optimization algorithm is heuristic particle swarm optimization (PSO).

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The improvement of the objective function during optimization:

31 30 29 28 Volume 27 26 25 24 23 0 1000 2000 3000 FEM-analysis 4000 5000 6000

20 independent runs.

The best found solution 23.57 (m3): Number of frames n = 12 i.e. distance between frames 5540 mm Beam h1= 1273 mm, h2 =2188 mm, b = 190 mm Columns hp = 486 mm, bp = 140 mm Secondary Kerto-S beams hk = 300 mm, bk = 39 mm
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Conclusions
Wood is suitable construction material for many purposes. Timber structure design should be done based on Eurocode 5. Structural optimization is natural extension to the analysis of wood structures.

Optimization offers a clear way to improve the efficientcy of wood structures. The optimization problem turns to be quite similar as in steel structure optimization.

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