With the increasing use of hardwoods and innovative hardwood products with significantly higher strengths, slimmer structures with larger spans can be realized in timber construction. However, this also means that individual timber members are more sensitive to buckling and imperfections. Current imperfection methods vary greatly depending on the verification method. Therefore, an extensive measurement program in cooperation with the Institute for Photogrammetry (IfP) of the University of Stuttgart on real members is intended to create a database with geometric imperfections of hardwood members and softwood members subjected to bending. Together with assumptions on structural imperfections supported by literature, recommendations will be given, which allow an economic design with verification methods of EC5 at a uniform safety level.  

Further information at IntCDC.