21st Century Timber Engineering - the age of enlightenment for timber design. Part 1: An Introduction to Timber

Although new courses on timber engineering design have recently begun or are being started in most of our universities, it has not been common for engineers to be taught it in their undergraduate studies. Most engineers are familiar with the use of timber but few, particularly when compared with those working with concrete or steel, claim to be expert. Timber is a natural material with difficult anisotropic properties. With its increasing use, it is important for more structural designers to gain more knowledge of the material and its engineering properties. This paper shows how an understanding of the material leads to an appreciation of engineering properties and shows showing how to create clear concepts for design. This paper (Part 1 of 2) addresses the material and its properties.