Our clients are becoming more aware of the need for low-carbon designs. This means that there will be an increasing focus on the use of biogenic (natural) materials within structural engineering.
This suggested reading list is a must for any engineer who wants to know more about timber and bamboo. James has also put together
a suggested reading list on the use of earth and straw.
Timber as structural material
Timber, if sourced from a well-managed (certified) forest, is a sustainable alternative to the use of steel and concrete framed buildings. Timber is sustainable because:
- It is renewable
- It has a lower reliance on fossil fuels for production
- It can sequester carbon if designed well
While most timber designs can be adapted from steel and concrete solutions, the optimum solutions often come from starting with the assumption that the building will be timber.
As a growing selection of timber products become available, the different structural solutions on offer continue to grow. Timber is increasingly being considered in hybrid design along with steel.
The references below are by no means exhaustive but they are useful. Engineers who have designed out of steel or concrete and are looking to diversify the material options they have available will find them particularly helpful.
Recommended reading on timber