Briefing: Bonded-in technology for structural timber

Abstract

Bonded-in technology provides rapid and reliable solutions for the connection, reinforcement and repair of timber structures. This briefing describes how fibre-reinforced plastic pultruded rods are bonded into over-sized holes or slots in timber, using room-temperature cure epoxy adhesives, to achieve coherent timber-to-composite interfaces. The results of pull-out tests are reported which confirm the integrity of the pultruded rod-to-timber interface. Examples of timber connections, reinforced beams and the repair of timber bridges are examined, and a comprehensive list of research references are included which underpin bonded-in technology for structural timber.