Prediction of bending performance of old timber beams by combining information from different methods

Abstract

Na assessment procedure for bending performance of timber beams on-site by combining informationfrom diferente non or semi-destructive methods is presented and discussed. Different methods were applied (core drilling, pilodyn, ultrasounds and stress waves) to old timber beams removed from a building given the fact after visual inspection it was decided that they will no longer able to comply to the limit state requirements. The study comprised the visual grading of the beams and afterwards a proof-load test was applied to them for obtaining the modulus of elasticity. The information obtained from the different tests are combined using meta-analysis and probabilistic methods and the results obtained solely from visual grading or by the application of a proposed coherent procedure (combining all data) compared. The results showed that SDT/NDT methods can be useful for the confirmation of visual strength grading results. Thus a more reliable structural analysis can be performed and a more informed decision yaken about the serviceability state of the structure.