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Title
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Mechanization and early hybrid material use in glulam construction : the tram depot in Basel from 1916
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Author
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Abstract
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| After acquiring the patent and the exclusive right to use glued laminated timber in Switzerland, the Swiss engineers Bernhard Terner (1875-1960) and Charles Chopard (1879-1954) developed outstanding structures in the early years of their practice. [1] Their knowledge of the material and the techniques involved were based on the system of Otto Hetzer (1846-1911), a master carpenter and later contractor in Germany; more specifically, their first projects draw on the very forms developed by and used by Hetzer for his projects. The invention of Otto Hetzer claimed a new way of producing “skeleton frames, which, with covering material, form roofs or entire buildings made from building elements composed of layers of wood.” These industrially produced, glue-laminated elements have been used for larger spans since they allowed fabrication in virtually unlimited sizes [2] bringing larger cross-sections and longer components to the building market. More importantly, their fabrication method allowed the modified timber to be used in different forms than those usually associated with it, e.g. arches and frame girders. Curved elements could replace traditional combinations of linear components such as roof frames using rafters, beams and posts. Such curved roofs offer “less obstruction to the pressure of snow and wind and affording a clear vaulted interior useful space.” [3] Terner and Chopard often made use of the new timber technology to enable big spaces with curved elements unifying traditional columns and beams similar to arch and frame forms known from steel and reinforced concrete applications. Therefore, the curved glue laminated elements were specifically shaped with an overall functional form but also with a precisely defined varying depth. As this type was commonly used to reflect the structural capacity needed in each location, for the tram depot in Basel a different approach was taken. Instead of adjusting the varying cross section of the glulam girders, only the geometry of those was precisely and most directly defined according to the structural action, covered by a conventional pitched roof, while the depth of the glulam girders was kept constant. The same applies to other glulam members. |
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Language
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English
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Source (book)
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Water, Doors and Buildings. Studies in the History of Services and Construction : the proceedings of the Sixth Conference of the Construction History Society, April 5-7, 2019, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Publication
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Cambridge
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The Construction History Society
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2019
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ISBN
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978-0-9928751-5-2
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Volume/pages
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p. 651-660
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