Designing with Glulam: Overview, Case Studies, and Curved Glulam Design Considerations with Glulam Manufacturing Plant Tour
- Course Length: Two Hours
- Course Date: Contact info@unalam.com or call 607-369-9341 to schedule
- Learning Units: 2 LU|HSW
Course Description:
As an engineered wood construction material, glulam (structural glued laminated timber) has been used in the United States for over 75 years. Beginning with a definition of glulam and a description of the manufacturing process, this course will then cover glulam specification and shared design responsibility between the design team and glulam manufacturer before concluding with a consideration of design issues specific to curved glulam. Codes (including fire safety), AITC standards, shared responsibility case studies, and how to design specific curved shapes will all be discussed. The course includes an in-depth tour of an active glulam manufacturing facility.
Learning Objectives:
- Build a foundation for structural glulam design by understanding the fundamentals of glulam as a building material including its fire protection qualities, and how it is manufactured and finished.
- Be able to specify glulam, taking into consideration the desired final appearance and experience of building occupants, by understanding the information needed to fully describe a glulam member.
- Know, through examining case studies, the benefits and pitfalls of shared design responsibility between design team and manufacturer, including the most important information to include on drawings and specifications to avoid potential conflicts.
- Gain expertise in designing safe curved glulam pieces by knowing what is physically possible, how curvature affects normal allowable stresses, and design issues specific to horizontal curves.
