Probabilistic modeling of timber structures

Authors

Jochen Köhler, John Dalsgaard Sørensen and Michael Havbro Faber

Abstract

The present paper contains a proposal for the probabilistic modeling of timber material properties. It is produced in the context of the Probabilistic Model Code (PMC) of the Joint Committee on Structural Safety (JCSS) [Joint Committee of Structural Safety. Probabilistic Model Code, Internet Publication: www.jcss.ethz.ch; 2001] and of the COST action E24 'Reliability of Timber Structures' [COST Action E 24, Reliability of timber structures. Several meetings and Publications, Internet Publication: http://www.km.fgg.uni-lj.si/coste24/coste24.htm; 2005]. The present proposal is based on discussions and comments from participants of the COST E24 action and the members of the JCSS. The paper contains a description of the basic reference properties for timber strength parameters and ultimate limit state equations for timber components.
The recommended probabilistic model for these basic properties is presented and possible refinements are given related to
updating of the probabilistic model given new information, modeling of the spatial variation of strength properties and the
duration of load effects.

Published in/by

Journal of Structural Safety, in press.