Sustainable design solutions presented by timber are generating a great deal of interest amongst clients and specifiers. However, the low timber content in engineering and architectural degree courses, and even in specialist and higher studies, is stifling our ability to respond. There simply aren’t enough experienced professionals around who are willing to see all-timber schemes through to fruition.

Timber Design Knowledge for Professionals of the Future, a TRADA-led project, is starting to address this need. Intended to be fully launched in 2004, the Teaching Package is already under way and being used in trials on student audiences and for CPD events.

Adaptable timber engineering information will be given to all UK university civil and structural engineering departments, teachers of engineering and technology in architecture, and to other specialist college and craft courses. In addition, the package will provide an invaluable source for best practice timber design information for construction professionals, particularly the recently qualified.

The Timber Design Knowledge package consists broadly of five sections:

  • Core teaching material – IT slide-sets with full lecture notes, supported by numerical worked examples.

  • Case studies – covering projects such as the Weald & Downland Gridshell and Hounslow East Station lamella roof.

  • Background resources, such as essential standards, Wood Information Sheets and STEP lectures.

  • Image galleries – based on STEP European-wide photographic sets, and on Forestry Commission galleries, plus images from TRADA Technology’s work.

  • Toolbox features.

    Technically, the core teaching material comprises four categories of worked examples in the field of the design of timber structures. These embrace:

  • Flexural elements;

  • compression and tension elements;

  • combined actions in elements and components;

  • connection design.

    All of this is to BS EN 1990: 2002 Basis of Design, and to the shortly anticipated structural timber Eurocodes. Serviceability and ultimate limit states design are hence copiously presented. Both the overall design of the package and the detailed technical content have been developed through the participation of an experienced team. This includes consulting engineers and distinguished academics, representing all regions of the UK.

    Remarkably, the structural steel fraternity has also been supportive of our initiative, notably, Professor David Nethercot of Imperial College, who chairs the Project Advisory Group. The Steel Construction Institute has also advised on education aspects of the work, drawing on their large experience from participation in European Teaching Package projects.

    Beta testing of the software has commenced with live audiences and sessions have taken place both at Imperial College in London, and at Napier University‘s new Centre for Timber Engineering in Edinburgh.

    Both the Edinburgh initiative, and the askTRADA knowledge resource (www.asktrada.co.uk ) tie in well with the project. The boost that is being given by wood. for good sponsored in-house CPD lectures (also available free of charge during the second half of this year) and by the forthcoming Wood Awards, is also much appreciated. It would appear that at last the timber industry is working cohesively to reach professionals on the topic of engineered wood.

    Academic access to the entire askTRADA resource has been made available free to all bona fide university and specialist college staff and students. If the timber industry needs proof that TRADA and its wide-reaching network responds to a thirst for timber design knowledge, then this is surely it.