Introduction

As the global construction industry increasingly prioritizes sustainable and renewable materials, Advanced Timber Structure Design and Sustainability has emerged as a cutting-edge field, offering innovative solutions for high-performance, low-carbon buildings that range from multi-story residential complexes to long-span public spaces. Modern timber engineering, leveraging engineered wood products and sophisticated design techniques, transcends traditional limitations to deliver structures that are not only aesthetically appealing and structurally efficient but also environmentally responsible. This training course is meticulously designed to equip civil and structural engineers, architects, timber fabricators, sustainability consultants, and advanced engineering students with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in understanding the unique properties of wood as a structural material, mastering the design of various timber elements and connections, exploring the use of engineered wood products (e.g., CLT, Glulam, LVL), applying advanced analysis techniques for timber structures, ensuring fire safety and durability, and leveraging modern software tools for integrated timber design and construction. Participants will gain a deep understanding of how to conceptualize, analyze, and design high-performance timber structures that contribute to a sustainable built environment.

Target Audience

• Civil Engineers (Structural Design Focus)
• Structural Engineers
• Architects (with a focus on sustainable and timber construction)
• Timber Fabricators & Manufacturers
• Sustainability Consultants
• Green Building Professionals
• Construction Managers (Timber Projects)
• Researchers in Timber Engineering
• Advanced Engineering Students

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental properties and behavior of wood as a structural material.
• Master the design of various timber elements (beams, columns, walls, diaphragms) according to modern codes.
• Learn about Engineered Wood Products (EWPs) such as Glued Laminated Timber (Glulam), Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), and Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL).
• Develop proficiency in designing complex timber connections.
• Understand the principles of fire safety, durability, and moisture management in timber structures.
• Explore advanced analysis techniques for timber structures (e.g., vibration, seismic).
• Learn about the sustainability benefits and lifecycle assessment of timber construction.
• Develop skills in using specialized software for timber design and detailing.
• Understand the constructability and economic considerations of advanced timber structures.
• Explore innovative timber structural systems and hybrid construction.
• Formulate comprehensive design solutions for sustainable timber projects.

Course Content

Module 1. Fundamentals of Wood as a Structural Material

• Wood Anatomy and Properties: Grain direction, anisotropy, strength characteristics
• Moisture Content: Shrinkage, swelling, and their effects on timber performance
• Defects in timber: Knots, shakes, checks, and their impact on strength
• Strength grading of timber: Visual and machine stress grading
• Environmental factors affecting wood properties

Module 2. Timber Design Codes and Standards

• North American Standards: NDS (National Design Specification for Wood Construction), IBC (International Building Code)
• European Standards: Eurocode 5 (Design of Timber Structures)
• Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) vs. Allowable Stress Design (ASD) for timber
• Serviceability limit states: Deflection, vibration
• Fire resistance provisions in timber design codes

Module 3. Design of Timber Beams and Columns

• Flexural Design: Bending strength, shear strength, deflection control
• Compression Design: Axial capacity, buckling analysis for columns
• Combined Bending and Axial Loads
• Design of built-up columns and beams
• Notches, holes, and their effects on member capacity

Module 4. Engineered Wood Products (EWPs) I: Glued Laminated Timber (Glulam)

• Glulam Manufacturing: Lamination process, adhesives
• Properties of Glulam: Strength, stiffness, dimensional stability
• Design of Glulam Beams and Columns: Larger spans, curved members
• Fire performance of Glulam
• Applications of Glulam in long-span and architectural structures

Module 5. Engineered Wood Products (EWPs) II: Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT)

• CLT Manufacturing: Orthogonal layering, pressing
• Properties of CLT: Two-way action, strength, stiffness, acoustic performance
• Design of CLT Walls, Floors, and Roofs
• Connections for CLT panels
• Fire performance and seismic behavior of CLT buildings

Module 6. Engineered Wood Products (EWPs) III: LVL, PSL, OSL, and I-Joists

• Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL): Manufacturing and properties
• Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) and Oriented Strand Lumber (OSL)
• Wood I-Joists: Components, advantages, and design
• Applications of these EWPs in residential and commercial construction
• Comparison of different EWPs and their suitability

Module 7. Timber Connections: Fasteners and Connectors

• Common Fasteners: Nails, screws, bolts, dowels, lag screws
• Connection Design: Lateral resistance, withdrawal resistance
• Metal Connectors: Steel plates, angles, straps, hangers
• Ductility of connections in seismic design
• Advanced connection systems for mass timber

Module 8. Advanced Timber Connections: Moment and Shear Connections

• Moment Connections: Glued-in rods, concealed connections
• Shear Connections: Diaphragm design, shear wall design
• Timber-Concrete Composite (TCC) Floors: Shear connectors, design principles
• Design of connections for CLT and Glulam structures
• Fire performance of timber connections

Module 9. Durability and Moisture Management in Timber Structures

• Moisture Content Control: Design for preventing moisture accumulation
• Decay and Insect Attack: Causes, prevention, and treatment
• Preservative Treatments: Types and applications
• Detailing for Durability: Flashing, ventilation, drainage
• Service life design for timber structures

Module 10. Fire Safety Design of Timber Structures

• Fire Behavior of Wood: Charring rate, residual strength
• Fire Resistance Ratings: Achieving required fire ratings for timber elements
• Mass Timber Fire Performance: Encapsulation, charring layer protection
• Compartmentation and fire stopping in timber buildings
• Fire safety strategies for multi-story timber structures

Module 11. Advanced Analysis of Timber Structures

• Vibration Analysis: Floor vibrations, human comfort criteria
• Seismic Design of Timber Structures: Diaphragms, shear walls, connections for seismic loads
• Progressive Collapse Prevention: Robustness in timber structures
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for complex timber components and connections
• Hybrid timber-steel/concrete systems

Module 12. Sustainability and Lifecycle Assessment of Timber Construction

• Carbon Sequestration: Role of timber in reducing embodied carbon
• Lifecycle Assessment (LCA): Comparing environmental impacts of timber vs. other materials
• Renewable resource management and sustainable forestry
• Embodied energy and carbon footprint of timber buildings
• Circular economy principles in timber construction

Module 13. Constructability and Project Management for Timber Structures

• Prefabrication and Off-Site Construction: Benefits for timber projects
• Erection Methods: Crane operations, sequence planning
• Logistics and transportation of large timber elements
• Quality control during fabrication and erection
• Project management considerations unique to timber construction

Module 14. Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Timber Structures

• BIM in Timber Design: Integrated design, analysis, and detailing
• Digital Fabrication: Link from BIM to CNC machines for timber elements
• Clash detection and coordination in timber models
• Generating accurate quantities and schedules
• Collaboration workflows for timber projects

Module 15. Innovative Timber Structural Systems and Future Trends

• Tall Timber Buildings: Design and construction of high-rise timber structures
• Timber Gridshells and Reciprocal Frames: Complex geometries
• Timber Bridges: Modern applications and design
• Self-healing timber and smart timber structures
• Research directions in advanced timber materials and construction.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.