Thermal-Mechanical Loading Interaction Effect on Strength and Failure Time of Wooden Structures Exposed to Elevated Temperature

The effect of thermal-mechanical loading interaction on strength of wooden structures was investigated. A thermal-mechanical interaction model was proposed to calculate the strength and failure time of wooden structures. In the model, variation of stresses in the structures due to elevated temperature were calculated by finite element methods. Then, a property degradation model including the thermal-mechanical interaction effect was pro posed to calculate the strength and the failure time of the wooden structures. Experimental tests on wooden bends were performed to verify the model, and good agreement between the data and the calculations of the analysis was found. A strong thermal-mechanical interaction has been found in wooden structures.