Evaluation of Reinforcement of Timber and Laminated Timber with Fibrous Polymer (FRP) Materials for Sustainable Structures

Abstract

A large part of the energy in the world is consumed by the construction sector. The construction industry is a sector with a high potential for environmental damage in many aspects such as unconscious raw material consumption, production processes of materials, wastes generated after the destruction of buildings. Timber is a natural building material with high aesthetic value obtained from trees, which are considered as a renewable resource and provide benefits in civil engineering applications contrary to environmental damage. However, its structural features are insufficient in some cases due to solid timber imperfections. The use of laminated timber, which is obtained by minimizing the defects of the timber, is very beneficial in terms of aesthetic, ecological and engineering features. Laminated timber has a much less harmful effect on the environment than other building materials such as concrete and steel, due to its low energy requirement and the low pollution it creates during production. For sustainability, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials are used to repair damages or improve the current condition of historic timber structures and structures made of laminated timber. FRP provides the use of the building element with little or no loss of cross-section without disturbing the aesthetics of the structure. Within the scope of the study, the potential of timber building materials, laminated timber materials that are very suitable for the construction of green buildings and the reinforcement of these materials with fiber polymers will be evaluated within the scope of sustainability. The use of laminated timber, which is an engineering product derived from timber instead of timber, in buildings and its contribution to creating a sustainable and renewable structure in case of damage with fiber polymer will be discussed.