Optimisation and systematisation of innovative joints in timber construction

The steady progress of climate change underlines the need to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Timber construction can make an effective contribution to climate change mitigation by absorbing CO₂ during the growth phase, significantly reducing emissions during production and assembly, and storing CO₂ over the long term during the service life of the building. The use of timber as a renewable material should therefore be increased. With regard to the long-term storage of CO₂ during the service life of the building, the removability of joints is also crucial, so that entire components can be disassembled and reused, thus strengthening the circular economy.

The aim of the project is to systematise the complex joints in timber construction, simplify and optimise their design, thereby increasing the use of timber as a renewable material and helping to save resources by making connections removable. Using the component method in timber construction, the design of a wide variety of joints can be optimised using a standardised procedure by specifically matching different components to each other ("performance-based design"). This method will be demonstrated using the example of a rigid timber frame corner with the possibility of disassembly ("design for re-use"). For practical purposes, and in particular for SMEs, easy digital access to the method will be provided in the form of a component catalogue and an Excel tool.

University of Stuttgart
Institute of Structural Design
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrike Kuhlmann; Lea Buchholz, M.Sc.

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection of the State of Baden-Württemberg (state co-financing)

December 12th, 2023