Timber: An ancient construction material with a bright future

Abstract

Since before recorded history mankind has used timber for construction and, in "tree rich" rural societies, timber has remained a primary construction material ever since. This reflects the ease with which it can be sourced, its excellent mechanical properties, light weight and easiness to shape. However, over the centuries there has developed widespread aversion within the world's burgeoning urban areas to using timber, because construction practices led to poor fire performance if timber was used. Urbanized societies essentially forgot over recent centuries that if used properly timber is a high-performance construction material. Modern advances in construction know-how and fire suppression techniques coupled with concerns over sustainability of other options, have created conditions wherein timber is re-emerging as a major construction material. Timber has begun to be used in construction of relatively tall urban buildings, rather than being regarded as only suitable for small buildings, and occasional large showpieces that are well isolated from neighbouring structures. This paper summarizes the story of the discovery, diminution and beginnings of re-emergence of timber as a major structural and construction material, and links that to contemporary research at the University of New Brunswick and collaborating institutions. Key words: design, fire, fire engineering, performance-based design, seismic response, structural design, structural response, timber, timber engineering, urbanization, wood