Timber structure repair of an emblematic Catalan industrial building with wood grafts and epoxy resins

Abstract

The development of epoxy resins has provided new timber-structure element repair methods. This material is moldable and able to be applied in situ, it can be used with the majority of wood species and, because of its liquid nature, it can be used in any hollow, fissure, or pore, joining the existing healthy material with the structural element 1]. These methods allow the load capacity of deteriorated timber structures to be recovered with sufficient security with the resin and timber working together 2]. The most common reinforcements are combinations of metal elements and fiberglass with epoxy resins. The reinforcement of timber elements, which employs timber as resistant material, are less common 3], but these have been employed for repairing damaged timber elements in the building case study called "Cal Trepat" in Tarrega (Spain). The repair technique used combined wood graftings and epoxy resins, where the load capacity of the repaired timber structures was improved, with a very low visual impact, demonstrating that it is a good solution and promoting this repair method for use by architects and engineers.