Importance

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Abstract

An elongated wood structural member or beam for bearing predetermined loads transverse to the lengths of the members preferably includes multiple elongate wood segments bonded together with their lengths generally aligned with the beam length as in a glue-laminated members. The predetermined load corresponds to a resisting moment that produces compressive and tensile stresses in the structural member in respective compression and tension portions of the beam on opposite sides of a neutral axis. A synthetic tension reinforcement having multiple synthetic fiber strands held within a resin matrix is adhered to at least one of the wood segments in the tension portion of the structural member and is selected to be substantially capable of bearing the tensile stress produced by the resisting moment and cooperates with the wood segments to position the neutral axis within the beam. As a result, the width and depth of the structural member and relative positions of the neutral axis and reinforcement may be selected to establish a compression portion of the structural member in which compressive stress from the resisting moment does not exceed a predetermined maximum compressive stress.

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First Claim