Finite Element Analysis of a Spruce Timber Beam Reinforced by FRP Fabrics

A simply supported wooden beam, vertically loaded at the top edge, is examined in this paper by solid/shell finite element analysis, with two possible configurations: the first one, without any reinforcement, that does not provide, given the assigned loads, allowable stress values in terms of safety; the second one, with the application of FRP fabrics at the intrados, which gives rise to a substantial reduction both in stresses and displacements. In particular, it is possible to observe a stress migration from the wooden material to the fabric, which is able to produce more satisfactory stress values at the bottom edge of the timber beam, thanks to the exploitation of the resistance capacity given by FRP material.