Numerical modelling of wooden structures

Abstract Wooden structures are quite complex with respect to their material properties as well as to their structural response and, therefore, need to be simulated appropriately by means of numerical methods. This review provides an overview of current simulation techniques in static and dynamic analysis with respect to wood material models and their numerical realisation in their comprehensive complexity. The basic orthotropic elastic formulation of wood, a possible extension to a viscoelastic, viscoplastic formulation and the consideration of brittle failure are presented in terms of the finite element method, which is proposed as the preferred tool for the analysis of complex structures with highly nonlinear behaviour. Furthermore, models describing the dependency on climate conditions, long-term treatment and ageing are introduced. Since there is still a lack of understanding and a lack of data, it is adverted to further research effort in these domains. In the wide field of dynamic analysis of wooden structures, examples and approaches are presented. Subsequently, theories for taking into account the uncertain nature of wood in its micro- and macro-structure and a numerical example will round this review off.