An Analysis on Finnish Wooden Bridge Practices

Abstract

To date, the share of research, teaching materials, and practices related to the use of timber in bridge projects in Finland are quite limited compared to other materials, such as concrete. This article, which also includes a structural design example for dimensioning a girder bridge, focuses on the status, applications and prospects of wood use in bridge construction, reflecting the Finnish professionals’ point of view. Key findings highlighted that: (1) the ideal use of wood would be in private road bridges and light traffic bridges; (2) while the use of wood in the bridge was assessed to be advantageous in terms of ecology, aesthetics, and environmental friendliness, it was reported to be disadvantageous in terms of long-term durability and connection details; (3) concrete and steel, whose prices fluctuate, could gradually be replaced by wood, a renewable material; (4) timber-concrete composite bridges were expected to become widespread in the future; (5) cross-laminated timber (CLT) could open up an opportunity for bridge decks; and (6) service limit state is often decisive for the dimensioning of wooden bridges. It is recommended to implement large-scale public projects for the wooden bridges by creating sustainable business models that will be supported both legitimately and economically by the local government. In this sense, close cooperation between authorities and other key market stakeholders is crucial.