Application of Various Types of Fiber Reinforced Material in Timber Structures

Improvements of mechanical characteristics in existing timber structures has an increasing application. There are numerous studies on the application of FRP materials as reinforcement in timber structures. The use of FRP has gained importance because it is a light material with very high mechanical performance, due to its strength and stiffness. The origin of the fibres in the composite material is of great importance when choosing the reinforcing material in timber constructions. Today, there are FRP materials on the market that are made of synthetic fibres, natural fibres, and more recently hybrid fibres (combination of synthetic and natural fibres). As a result of inadequate maintenance of timber constructions, biological deterioration of wood occurs, which significantly affects the load-bearing capacity of the wooden element in the structure. The paper presents various techniques for strengthening timber elements, which can be applied in already existing timber structures.