Bent beams from glued timber: use in construction

Many owners of private houses, not satisfied with the traditional shape of the roof and the standard dimensions of buildings. The tree provides very wide possibilities for construction, and one of them is the construction of dome-shaped structures with the help of curved structures that allow you to create the most original and unusual outlines of buildings using curved surfaces. In addition, bent timber has many additional advantages.

Scopes of bent elements from a tree in construction

This material is used not only in residential construction, but also in the construction of economic and industrial buildings.

Curved timber expands the horizons in the field of design and implementation of structures, allowing to solve the following tasks:

• Bent timber allows for the overlap of large distances between the walls, as beams, trusses and other types of structures for mounting the roof are made of it. This allows you to build warehouses, buildings for animals in large farms and other structures that require a large area;
• The tree is resistant to various factors of exposure, so the construction of bentwood is used for the construction of warehouses;

Note! Since wood impregnated with special compounds does not rot and does not corrode at all, it becomes even more reliable than metal.

• This material is used in the construction of greenhouses and greenhouses, since it can be used to create durable and stable structures of convenient shape and large area;
• The most common method of application: bent glued laminated timber - material for roofs of unusual shape and domes;

• Bent glued laminated timber makes it possible to build small architectural structures: elegant gazebos made of timber with a domed roof will be an excellent decoration for the site, they look original and unusual.

The dome structure of the roof is not only unusual and beautiful from the aesthetic side, it is beneficial for other reasons. On such a roof the snow will not accumulate, it is very slightly heated from the sun and does not create a large load on the walls. It is no coincidence that this type of roof has been used since ancient times.

Making bent structures

How to bend a timber so that the wood does not crack, and the material itself takes on the necessary geometric shape? Making a bent timber engaged in industrial conditions, but on the other hand, this work can be done with your own hands.

Wood bending is a rather complicated technological process in which wood is exposed to several factors at once. This job requires a certain skill and strict adherence to technology, otherwise the product will be very fragile.

Usually for the manufacture of bent forms are used hardwood, as they are more plastic and easier to process. The main species used are oak, alder, maple, ash, etc.

Coniferous species for this are used extremely rarely. Most of the bent blanks for furniture and for other products are made of birch veneer, such material makes up about 60% of all bent-glued blanks. An approximate instruction for bending wood is as follows:

Fundamentals of technology of bent elements

The basis for the bending of wood becomes hydrothermal treatment, that is, the simultaneous effects of steam and high temperature.

Such processing increases the plastic properties of wood, with the result that it acquires increased flexibility, and it is possible to change its shape without causing damage to the material structure itself.

Wood acquires the highest plastic capacity when its humidity reaches 30% and the temperature in the core of the workpiece is 100 degrees. To achieve such indicators at home is not easy, especially since steaming should be lengthy. A timber with a cross section of 3.5 cm must be steamed for at least 1.5 hours in order for it to become flexible.

The scheme of the bent timber

• The workpiece is placed on the tire and carefully attached, after which the necessary time is steamed. Billets supply special conical or rectangular cuts, which will allow the wood to bend;

• The prepared material is bent to achieve the desired curvature using a tire and a press;
• The blank still attached to the tire is sent to the dryer where it acquires moisture suitable for construction work.

As a result, the workpiece acquires the desired radius of curvature, and it can be used for construction and for the manufacture of wooden elements of the interior. Bent glued timber is made by combining two processes: the lamellae bend and immediately stick together in a single block.

Ultimately, the material retains all the positive qualities of laminated veneer lumber, while acquiring a special shape. The technology allows you to create a variety of forms with different bending radii.

Conclusion

Bent timber - is an unusual building material that allows you to create a variety of architectural structures. Its production involves a time-consuming process, which explains the relatively high price. With the help of a bent timber it is possible to manufacture domed roofs - an ancient and at the same time very original structure.