Design for Adaption for resource efficient timber structures

We are seeing escalating urbanization and the need for more constructions.

Meanwhile, the construction industry has been a major contributor to the resource consumption and global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Larger timber constructions are becoming common globally due to the environmental advantage. However, there is a certain limitation of sustainably available wood resources.

Extension of service life of timber structure is key to prolong the carbon stock and efficiently allocate resources over various sectors.The project aims to develop a design guidance of timber structures which are adaptable to changes of usage and local damages on structural elements by introducing the concept of Design for Adaption (DfA).

The design guidance will consist of (1) a protocol for the initial design phase to allow for the adaption of structure, (2) examples of verified solutions for DfA connections, (3) carbon accounting to estimate the climate mitigation potential of DfA practice and (4) demonstration and documentation of DfA in a small scale.

The project outcome will help practitioners (1) to promote rational and efficient use of resources, (2) to reduce GHG emissions from the construction industry and (3) to rationally assess the carbon saving in individual design cases.The project primarily focuses on the conditions of Sweden and Australia to address and makes the outcomes applicable to a wider spectrum of conditions of local construction industries.