Prototype Testing of Timber Structures

With the increasing use of prefabricated timber components in the United Kingdom, structural testing of prototype units has been developed as a valid method of assessing new designs. Information obtained from structural tests can be used to achieve economical designs and also to provide general information on the performance of timber structures. A prototype being tested should be typical of the design for which acceptance is required. It should be manufactured in accordance with standard production procedures, and the quality should represent the lowest permitted by the specification, particularly in the members which are likely to be most highly stressed. The test procedure consists of 1) A preload test to allow the structure, joints, and bearing area to bed down; this generally represents the period of construction; 2) a deflection test, in which the load/deflection characteristics of the structure are measured from zero up to full design load and also for a period of 24 hours under full design load, giving an indication of the deflection/time characteristics so that long-term deflection can be estimated; and 3) an ultimate load test, in which the failure load of the structure is measured, giving a load factor for the structure and an indication of the amount of overload that can be tolerated; this gives a measure of the degree of safety of the structure, a practical consideration not readily obtained by calculation.

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