31st regulars’ table for timber construction structural engineers on June 06, 2024 at TU Graz
"Bracing in timber construction - requirements, approaches and solutions"
On Thursday, June 6, 2024, the 31st Timber Construction Statics Regulars’ Table took place at the Structural Engineering Center of Graz University of Technology.
With 35 participants from the fields of structural engineering and structural design from all facets of planning and execution of timber construction, a very interesting, varied and, above all, important interdisciplinary specialist discussion was once again held.
After a very informative and impressive guided tour through the laboratory of the Institute of Timber Construction and Wood Technology at Graz University of Technology in the Building Technology Center by DI Dr. Andreas Ringhofer, the 31st Timber Construction and Structural Engineers Stammtisch began with a welcome and a brief review of the last Stammtisch in March of this year.
FH-Prof. Dr. Markus Wallner-Novak from the FH Joanneum in Graz and the software manufacturer Waller Mild introduced the participants to the topic of bracing with his lecture “Structural concepts, modeling and load-bearing behavior in multi-storey timber construction”, with both theoretical input and practical approaches. In particular, he addressed the approaches from standardization, but above all the practical construction view and approach of structural engineers, who are paying increasing attention to the topic of bracing in their daily work. This is also due to the fact that timber construction is becoming increasingly large-volume and, above all, higher, and these large building heights have an increasing influence on the issue of bracing.
Martin Burgschwaiger from ConLignum ZT GmbH then gave a presentation on the “Differences in horizontal bracing from 2 to 12 storeys in cross-laminated timber” from a practical structural engineering perspective. Through the different models and approaches as well as comparative calculations on concrete national and international projects, he shows the great importance of the topic of bracing in timber construction and also the engineering approach to this topic. The questions and discussion approaches of the participants showed the great importance as well as the similar approaches and models of the participants.
Finally, DI Georg Stelzhammer, representing the IHBV, gave the participants an overview of the IHBV’s current projects and publications. It became clear that many developments are underway but still require intensive processing and scientific research.
Intensive and well-founded discussions and practical approaches from the participants contributed to the fact that this regulars’ table was very successful from a technical and timber construction perspective. As usual, the lively participation of the participants was followed by an informal exchange over the buffet, which concluded the evening in a pleasant atmosphere. The regulars’ table once again proved to be a very important platform for networking experts at practitioner level and for exchanging knowledge in the field of timber construction at a high level.
We are already looking forward to the next Stammtisch for timber construction structural engineers!
What is the regulars' table of timber construction engineers?
The Holzbau-Statiker-Stammtisch was launched in Styria in 2011 – at that time under the leadership of Holzcluster Steiermark, later proHolz Steiermark – as an information and exchange platform for timber construction structural engineers and structural engineers in timber construction. According to the motto “From practice – for practice”, structural engineers (almost exclusively) working in timber construction from all over Austria – i.e. exclusively civil engineers and structural engineers from manufacturing and/or executing companies in the timber industry – meet at regular intervals 2 to 3 times a year at different locations in Austria and exchange ideas on various topics of timber construction statics at a very high and, above all, practical level.
The Holzbau-Statiker-Stammtisch, which is now organized by the Austrian Timber Construction Platform and the Timber Industry Association and has been run by Jörg Koppelhuber and Helmut Stingl since the beginning, is attended by an average of 30 to 40 people, who learn about new developments in the fields of standardization, statics and detail and material development through input lectures, but above all through intensive discussions and input from their own offices and manufacturing (executing) companies in the timber industry, which illuminate, discuss and jointly develop the ever-increasing and complex field of timber construction in all its facets. Numerous highly specialized timber construction topics have already been discussed in the past, thus promoting the exchange of experience. Many more regulars’ tables with visionary and everyday challenges will emphasize the topicality of timber construction through the community of timber construction statisticians.
For more information about the Holzbaustatiker regulars’ table or an overview of previous topics, please contact us at office@koppelhuber-partner.at.