In this area, scientific activities focus on increasing and consolidating the current knowledge of reinforcing techniques used for heavy timber structures, in particular for timber bridges and how  to improve/enhance performance and reliability. This scientific area includes:

• Identification of properties to be enhanced;
• More effective timber decks as a result of effective pre-stressing;
• Increase stiffness and strength by reinforcement;
• Energy dissipation capacity of structures.

The key areas for the research tasks are:

• Enhance the load-carrying capacity at the anchorage zones of pre-stressing bars in stress laminated timber bridges;
• Enhance the performance of large-span structures by means of innovative connections;
• Seismic dissipation capability of heavy timber structures (multi-storey buildings, large-span structures, etc);
• Timber-concrete composite structures with innovative shear connectors
• Increase the level of prefabrication of heavy timber structures, mainly by use of innovative connection systems;
• Increase the level of safety of existing timber structures, by means of reinforcing techniques;
• Study of new shapes and technologies for enhancing the structural performance of large-span structures;
• Enhance the serviceability performance of timber elements and systems sensitive to vibration problems;
• Adequate bracing system for enhancing robustness of large span structures.

For the above areas, the strength and stiffness enhancement will be achieved mainly by means of the following techniques available:

• Screws and steel rods
• Fibre reinforced polymers (FRP)
• Densified wood
• Other engineered wood products
• New developments