Assessment of Glulam and Reinforced Concrete Beams in Multi-Storey Building

This study assesses glulam and reinforced concrete (RC) beams in a multi-storey building in Gävle in Sweden. StruSoft FEM-Design software is used to conduct the current study. First, the building having the RC beams is modelled, analysed, and designed. Utilisation ratio, stress, weight, reaction force, stability, and deflection of the building are examined. It is concluded that the building can function well with RC beams. Then, the RC beams are replaced with glulam beams and the building is again analysed. It is revealed that larger cross-sections are needed for the replaced glulam beams in most of the spans compared with the RC beams in order for them to have acceptable results from the utilisation ratio viewpoint. However, for large spans of 8 m, a timber column is used in the mid-span for all the storeys as a strengthening alternative so that a shorter span for these glulam beams can be adopted which leads to acceptable results. Stresses of the RC and glulam beams are also evaluated. The building having the glulam beams is 23.79 % lighter than the building having the RC beams. The maximum reaction force of the building having the glulam beams is obtained 24.27 % lower than the building having the RC beams. Stability and deflection of the building in both cases are discussed as well.