Influence of the Climatic Changes on Wood Structures Behaviour

International audienceThe mechanical and physical properties of wood structural elements and of wood structures are strongly affected by the combination of humidity, temperature variation and biological attack. The aim of this study is to develop a design model able to estimate timber elements decay function of the exploitation climatic conditions (temperature and humidity). The deterioration program may be applied on any type of wood element and is indicating the necessity of increasing the cross section dimensions if and when the specific humidity and temperature become of significant influence. The results of this study are of great importance as the behavior of a non-treated timber element can be surveyed when directly influenced by changes in climatic conditions (relative humidity and temperature)