Comparison of the Design Norms NP005/2003 and EUROCODE 5. Elements Subjected to Compression Parallel to the Fibers

1Abstract—The paper aims to compare the two main design norms used in Romania for the dimensioning and verification of timber structural elements, namely NP 005 and Eurocode 5, highlighting the advantages and the disadvantages of each norm in comparison to each other, as well as their common points. An application was solved using both design norms for the case of elements subjected to compression parallel to the fibers. Since the design methods differ greatly one with respect to the other, a strict comparison of the obtained results could not be performed per element. Thus, multiple sets of data were introduced for the dimensions of the cross-section resulting in 34 distinct possible area combinations and three heights for the column were chosen, thus affecting the buckling length. For all these combinations only eight principle slenderness coefficients were found. Multiple sets of data were chosen for the forces acting on the timber element in order to see which possible combinations would yield valid results, without the need to resize the element. A matrix solution and representation were found.