Project

Connection Systems for Extended Building Life

PROJECT UNDER DEVELOPMENT

This project aims to create a clear and common understanding in the engineering community around connection design. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of:

  • mass timber joints
  • framing to mass timber joints
  • hybrid (steel / concrete) to mass timber joints

Using interdisciplinary approaches new knowledge will be generated on structural ULS performance of common timber joints to extend building service life. Furthermore, long-term performance, creep performance and SLS performance (stiffness, vibrations, acoustics) will be considered. Expected outcomes of this project include refined methods and improved techniques for structural design of common timber joints which will be disseminated in a technical document (e.g. Wood Solutions design guide) with worked examples. This is expected to provide significant benefits for designers and structural engineers, increase certainty, and reduce cost.

Suggested preliminary work includes an industry survey to determine the variance of understanding in industry and mapping of what resources are available in Australia and internationally – state of the art report.

Please see Project Video for further information:

 


Objectives/Deliverables

  • Standard connection detail library
  • Technical doc with worked examples
  • API / Integration of findings as software solution
  • Dissemination through: Technical design guide, Webinars on findings, WCTE 2025
  • Aspiration: input into AS1720.1 revision

Project Leader/s

Lisa Ottenhaus

Node Leader - Design for Extended Building Life; Project Leader

The University of Queensland


Project Staff

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Opportunity

HDR Candidate

Higher Degrees by Research Scholarship Opportunity


Project Investigators

Lisa Ottenhaus

Node Leader - Design for Extended Building Life; Project Leader

The University of Queensland

Joe Gattas

Theme Leader - Innovative Solutions; Node Leader - Manufacturing Innovation & Value-Chain Innovation

The University of Queensland

Sardar Malek

Partner Investigator

University of Victoria, Canada

Mahmud Ashraf

Chief Investigator

Deakin University

Hamid Valipour

Chief Investigator

University of New South Wales

Tim Butler

Partner Investigator

Lendlease

Matt Smith

Partner Investigator

Simpson Strong-Tie

Adam Jones

Partner Investigator

CLT Toolbox

Harrison Brooke

Partner Investigator

Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA)


Lead Project Partner Organisation


Project Partners