Failure Analysis of Laminated Wooden Arches Strengthened with Novel Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) Composites: An Experimental Study

Laminated wood is produced as a single large element by combining pieces of elements. Wooden building materials are used in several old buildings that survive to the present day. To strengthen wooden structures, they must be preserved in accordance with their originality without damaging their historical texture. In this study, an innovative strengthening method was developed by placing carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) fabrics between wooden planks before lamination. With this new strengthening method, CFRP fabrics were placed between the layers, preserving aesthetics and preventing crack formation. Notable improvements were observed in the strength properties of the reinforced wood material and the CFRP-reinforced layers exhibited ductile behavior by preventing damage. The laminated wood arch-reinforced sample with CFRP strips showed a 70% load increase and a 276% deformation increase compared with the reference sample. Because of these superior features, arch elements made of laminated wood offer a safe, durable, and natural solution for the passage of extremely wide openings. Additionally, wooden elements have anisotropic and heterogeneous structures owing to their defective areas. Eliminating the factors that cause wood to display anisotropic properties ensures the homogeneity of the resulting material through the lamination process. The aim is to reduce the cross sections used in wooden construction elements reinforced with these fabrics in the production area and to shorten the construction period by minimizing manufacturing errors.