Timber Join Using Extended Planar Web for Structural Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for laminating and end-joining timber to create high-value structural beams are prone to potential failure points due to the combination of lamination and end-joining techniques, particularly when using dowels, which can interfere with the lamination process and result in areas of weakness.
Innovation Solution
A join system utilizing an elongate planar web with widened regions that extends beyond the edges of timber flanges, providing engagement points and increased adhesive surface area, which enhances resistance to compression and tension forces, and allows for the use of smaller diameter timber flanges to form composite timber joists with improved strength and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If dowels are used for end-joining timber flanges, then the timber joist can achieve required span, but the dowels interfere with lamination means and create points of potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes dowels and other fastening means from the timber joist construction. Instead, it uses an elongate planar web that extends beyond the edges of the timber flanges to provide end-joining functionality without interference to lamination. This extraction of the problematic fastening elements resolves the contradiction by achieving span requirements through web extension rather than through dowel insertion into the flanges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional dowel insertion into the flange cross-section to a two-dimensional solution where the planar web extends beyond the flange edges in the longitudinal dimension. This dimensional shift allows the web to provide both lamination and end-joining functions without the spatial interference that dowels create within the flange cross-section.
2Strength
If larger cross-sectional area timbers are used, then load bearing capacity increases, but material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the load-bearing function across multiple components: the timber flanges provide localized strength while the elongate planar web distributes loads across the entire length of the joist. This segmentation allows the use of smaller, more cost-effective timber flanges while maintaining overall load-bearing capacity through the distributed reinforcement provided by the web extending beyond the flange edges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite timber joist structure combining timber flanges with an elongate planar web material. This composite construction allows optimization of each component's dimensions and material properties, using smaller timber flanges that are cost-effective while the web provides the additional structural reinforcement needed to achieve required load-bearing capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If timber flanges with smaller diameter are used, then material costs decrease, but the ability to bear load and span decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for the reduced strength of smaller diameter timber flanges by extending the planar web beyond the flange edges in the longitudinal dimension. This dimensional extension provides additional reinforcement that compensates for the smaller flange size, allowing cost-effective smaller timbers to achieve required load-bearing capacity and span through the enhanced web configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A join is provided for end-joining elongate timber flanges. The join includes: an elongate planar web having an upper portion running along the longitudinal axis, and a lower portion running along the longitudinal axis; the elongate planar web having, in order running along the longitudinal axis, a first region, a second region and a third region, the second region having a greater width than the first and third regions; and a first elongate timber flange having a slot engaging upper portions of the first and second regions of the planar web; a second elongate timber flange have a slot engaging the upper portions of the second and third regions of the planar web. The lower edge of the planar web extends beyond the edge of the first and second elongate timber flanges so as to provide an engagement point for a further elongate timber flange.