DAMAGES IN WOODEN STRUCTURES AND MATERIALS

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5 Jan 2024

WOODEN STRUCTURES

Historical buildings, which are a valuable reflection of cultural heritage, form a link between the past and the present. Thanks to these structures, it is possible to understand and interpret civilization. Wooden structures are also included in these historical structures. These structures, which are on the verge of being forgotten due to many social, cultural and economic reasons, are sometimes protected by the state. Wooden structures are one of the important reflections of the tangible cultural heritage in Turkey. At this point, it is important to protect and transfer it to future generations.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of wood construction?

Advantages of Wood Construction

Simplicity of construction: The wood beams, joists, and studs can be cut to size onsite and, unlike some other construction materials, no heavy equipment is required.
Speed of construction: While the frame is generally built on site, some elements can be prefabricated allowing for greater control of details and less time in construction.
Sustainability: Wooden buildings are, unlike concrete and steel ones, made from a renewable resource and one that is especially abundant in North America: trees.
Carbon-capture benefits: Over the course of its life cycle, trees remove carbon from the air, but they return that captured carbon into the soil and the atmosphere when they eventually decompose. When wood is used in the construction of a house, however, the carbon remains trapped, at least as long as the building still stands.
Insulation: Compared to other materials like glass, concrete, and steel, wood has low-thermal conductivity—in other words, it retains heat and makes for a more energy efficient home.
Improved air quality: Some studies indicate that the air quality in wood buildings is better, with fewer toxic emissions compared to some other construction materials.

Disadvantages of Wood Construction

Wood rot: While huge advances have been made in the treatment of wood to extend its life span, it still remains more subject to rot than concrete. Mold and mildew can also be concerns with wood construction, though they can also be avoided if attention is paid to moisture control, properly sealing windows, and taking other preventative measures.
Structural limitations: Wood is an excellent choice for many traditional houses, especially those in a timber frame style. Some design features found in more contemporary houses, however, like cantilevered elements or large windows, can be difficult to achieve relying on wood frame construction. Concrete and steel structures may be more appropriate choices for some contemporary home designs.
Fire risks: The application of fire retardants and the installation of sprinkler systems can limit the risk of fire in completed wood-frame buildings, but builders should be aware of the fire hazards in the early stages of construction, when the wood frame is largely exposed and unprotected.
Building code limitations: While the International Code Council has become more accepting of wood construction, in general these buildings still cannot be as tall as others. Recent changes to building codes have, however, created more alternatives. For example, a 2015 update allows for construction of wood structures atop concrete podiums, allowing mostly wood constructions to reach new heights.

Deterioration and Damages in Wooden Structures

Unfortunately, many historical wooden structures in Turkey are not given the importance they deserve. Although wooden structures are unique symbols of cultural heritage, they have suffered a lot of damage due to natural and human reasons. Conservation of buildings is very important for their continuity. Therefore, it should be ensured that these unique cultural values are protected by periodic repairs and development of appropriate recovery projects.
The main causes of damage to historical wooden structures;

the location of the building,
the characteristics of the ground,
the faults in the design of the structural system,
the use of faulty materials, natural factors,
the effect of humidity, earthquakes,
the effects of wind, fungi and bacteria,
the effects of worms and insects, fires,
connection errors, repair errors,

poor workmanship, neglect and abandonment.

Location of the Structure

The location of the structure may cause damage to the wooden carrier system. For example, the Black Sea region of our country receives abundant precipitation in every season. These structures are damaged due to floods and landslides caused by these precipitations. As can be seen in photo, it is seen that the ground under the wooden carrier system slips due to the excess of precipitation water and causes deterioration under the carrier system. For this reason, precautions should be taken considering the possibility that a wooden structure to be built above or below the slopes will be affected by floods that may occur.

Floor Characteristics

Soils are a very complex material in terms of structure and behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the soil properties accurately. Because the structures are built on these floors, so the building foundation is designed to carry the static and dynamic loads acting on the structures in question. In other words, due to the static and dynamic loads acting on the soils in question, liquefaction occurs with the increase of pore water pressure, especially with the effect of earthquakes. As can be seen in photo, settlement occurs on the ground of the building as a result of liquefaction and accordingly, collapse and bending occurred in the wooden structure resting on the ground in question.

The Faults in the Design of the Structural System

Structural system in wooden structures; It consists of structural elements such as foundation, pillar, horizontal belt, cladding, buttress, which are formed to carry the loads coming to the structure and to transfer these loads to the ground. The carrier system of these structural elements should be arranged and dimensioned in such a way that the installation is water safe and robust. In addition, in wooden structures, attention should be paid to the fiber directions of the carrier elements. Because the wood material carries more load in the direction parallel to the fibers.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Wooden structures are one of our important cultural heritages that have been preserved for a long time. These structures are subject to deterioration and damage over time. The biggest factors causing this situation are; It can be said that there are carrier system design, wind, joint calculations and earthquakes. In particular, it is necessary to find a solution with static rules in terms of evaluating the performance of wooden structures against earthquakes and wind.