Myth:
Structurally speaking wood is not as efficient as concrete or steel. Also, it is less resistant and cannot withstand as much weight.
Reality:
How can the mechanical resistance of different materials be compared?
Structural efficiency is a concept which enables the optimisation of a structure to be assessed. There are various indicators to assess it, one of which is known as “range” which is defined as the relationship between the resistance a material has and its own weight. Therefore, the “range” is the maximum height which a material reaches before collapsing under its own weight.
In the following table, the resistance values of commonly used construction materials are described as well as the calculation of their ranges
Regarding the range of Steel S-275 (common steel), Steel S-460 (high resistance steel), HA-25 (common concrete), HAR-100 (high resistance concrete), C24 (sawn wood) and GL24 (glued laminated wood), we have obtained these heights:
We can see that sawn wood C24 has a range similar to that for high resistance steel S-460 and above conventional steel and any type of framed concrete Moreover, we can also see that laminated wood GL36h has a higher range than any other material.
In the following table, the resistance values of commonly used construction materials are described as well as the calculation of their ranges
Regarding the range of Steel S-275 (common steel), Steel S-460 (high resistance steel), HA-25 (common concrete), HAR-100 (high resistance concrete), C24 (sawn wood) and GL24 (glued laminated wood), we have obtained these heights:
We can see that sawn wood C24 has a range similar to that for high resistance steel S-460 and above conventional steel and any type of framed concrete Moreover, we can also see that laminated wood GL36h has a higher range than any other material.
Conclusion:
Resistance and the light weight wood has makes it highly efficient structurally. This enables high buildings to be designed and built with wood as the main structural material.
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