Improvement of methods for strengthening wooden beams in support zones using clamps

The article addresses the issues of deformation in wooden beams in support zones and proposes methods to resolve them using metal clamps. Special attention is given to the fact that when wood humidity changes, it expands, creating high compressive stresses in the clamp zones, potentially leading to material failure. As shown in the article, even a relatively small change in humidity (within 2 %) is enough to compress the wood and stop the clamp from functioning. This limitation significantly restricts the current use of clamps to reinforce wooden structures. To prevent such issues, adjustable clamps are proposed, which compensate for changes in wood dimensions due to humidity fluctuations. It is recommended that the adjustment of the clamps be done using a wrench. The article presents research results on the deformations of wooden beams reinforced with metal clamps and provides recommendations for calculating the forces required to compensate for wood swelling due to humidity. Parameters for adjusting the clamps are calculated using special formulas, including determining the angle of rotation of the adjustment nut depending on time and humidity changes in the environment. The article also discusses conditions where clamp use is most effective, especially for tall wooden beams in support zones. This work may be useful for engineers and specialists in wooden construction, offering practical recommendations to improve the strength and durability of structures exposed to external factors.