Novel Technologies for Tall Timber Buildings Research Streams and Three Solutions

The Future Timber Hub aims to drive the futuredevelopment of tall timber buildings in the Australianbuilt environment. The aim of the Hub is to transformthe timber construction industry in Australia bygenerating the skills, knowledge and resources thatwill overcome current technological and social barrierslimiting the application of timber to tall structures.The Future Timber Hub as an interdisciplinarypartnership between: The University of Queensland,the Queensland State Government Departmentof Agriculture and Fisheries, Arup, Hyne Timber,Lendlease, the Queensland Fire and EmergencyServices (QFES), Scion NZ, Griffith University, theUniversity of British Columbia and the University ofCanterbury.Current activities of the Future Timber Hub involves12 projects looking at developing methodologies (andpractices) under the key themes (1) manufacturing anddigital design, (2) material anisotropy, heterogeneityand variability, (3) acoustics, (4) sustainability anddurability, (5) structural performance, and (6) firesafety. The use of methodologies developed undereach key theme will on tall-timber buildings will bedemonstrated through a series of exemplar projects.This paper summarize current progress and finingsof three key projects, (a) pre-fabrication anddigital fabrication strategies for large-scale timberconstruction, (b) Long-span floor timber systems andthe potential for improved fire performance, and(c) Exploring the self-extinguishment mechanism ofengineered timber in full-scale compartment fires.