The Application of Adhesives to Modern Timber Structures

THE title of this paper may suggest that the use of adhesives in timber structures is new: in fact, they were used early in this century, one of the first to employ them being Otto Hetzer of Weimar in his patented Hetzer construction. His method was to
use laminates bonded by casein glue to form straight and curved beams of both rectangular and I-section, and arch ribs for long-span construction. The system became popular in Switzerland from its introduction in 1909, and soon spread to other European countries. Examples of its use are to be found in the roof to the University Tower, Zurich (1913), the 36 ft. span footbridge over a railway at Wolfsberg, Sweden (1923), station roof at Trondheim (1921), locomotive sheds of 66 ft. to 88 ft. span at Berne, Switzerland (1912), horticultural laboratory (growing house) 30 ft. span (1913).

D.W. Cooper