Damping in vibrating structures is much less understood than their stiffness and inertial properties and in timber structures it is even less understood how damping is generated in motion characteristic of bending and shear separately. We analyse these contributions through application of the so-called method of complex moduli, arising in constant-hysteretic models of damping. We separate the influences on overall damping due to these independent material properties by considering a partial differential equation of undamped motion and substituting Young’s and shear moduli with their complex counterparts. We keep the rotary inertia present in the model to assess its own damping contribution and design an experimental setup in which vibration of a free-free beam is simulated so that no reaction (i.e., no contact damping) should be present, which allows us to assess the contribution due to bending, shear and rotary inertia to material damping only. We show that, in the present model, the overall loss factor is indeed smaller than in the literature, while the damping due to shear effects grows in higher vibration modes and beams with smaller length-to-height ratio. Finally, we propose a damping prediction model built on simple linear regression in which the vibration modes are processed separately.

The article describes the use of iron in industrial buildings constructed in the first industrial age in Rijeka. Since the middle of the 19th century, the structural use of cast iron in internal skeleton structures in place of timber created opportunities for improved functional design of these multi-storey buildings. The analysis of some buildings indicates a lack of experience in the application of new structural typologies, while in others it indicates experimental and innovative structural solutions which reflected the progress of science, technology and high-quality workmanship in that period.

This paper presents the results of research conducted within R&D project. The primary goal was to apply the current state of the art technology in aluminium to a timber-based frames, but also to improve the energy performance of the building envelope and create environmentally friendly product, which physical, structural and aesthetic performances are equal to or even better than equivalent aluminium systems.

The proclamation of Rijeka as a free port in 1719, and the construction of the lazaretto (naval quarantine station) of St Charles Borromeo in 1725, initiated the economic and urban development of Rijeka, which grew from a small coastal town into a significant centre of manufacturing and industry. With the lazaretto and the largest factory, a sugar refinery built in 1750, the city’s first manufacturing zone was formed. In the second zone, along the Rječina River, in 1821 a paper mill was built, which in 1833 received the first steam engine, with which the industrialisation of the city began. This article describes the materials and structures of the industrial buildings that characterise this period. In proto-industrial and early industrial times, construction consisted mainly of massive stone and brick walls or masonry-vaulted structures. In the 19th century, buildings begin to adapt to the production processes, which influenced the development of a new architectural typology. The internal structures were made of wood, a readily available and inexpensive material, with which the builders already had extensive experience.

A preliminary condition assessment using non-destructive testing methods for determining material quality, has been carried out on three adjacent wooden hangars near Šibenik with the aim of exploring the possibilities of their repurposing. Through visual inspection and detailed geometric measurements, it has been verified that their unique structure embodies the original Zollinger lamella vault system in which the joint typology is decisive for both, the overarching structural analysis and the execution of the structure. In this paper, the results of conducted investigation, including the developed detailed geometric model are presented, and guidelines for future comprehensive research focusing on the influence of joint stiffness on global structural features are discussed, as well.

Unitised structural sealant-glazed (SSG) façades with glass bonded directly to timber frames offer enhanced sustainability and superior thermal performance compared with conventional aluminium-framed systems. Becaxuse bonded joints must provide continuous structural support to the glass throughout the façade’s service life, long-term durability is the key requirement. Standardised testing protocols are designed for glass and metal substrates, making some of them incompatible with timber substrates. To verify the mechanical suitability of the concept of direct bonding to timber, an experimental holistic artificial ageing (HAA) method suitable for the timber substrate was developed to complement standardised testing protocols. The core objective of the designed approach is to simulate realistic conditions under which façades are subjected to synergistic combinations of environmental and mechanical loads. These combined actions are integrated into a synchronous timeframe, with a 6 h ageing cycle representing each year of the façade’s 50-year service life. The HAA was conducted on specimens of the genera larch, cedar, and oak, as well as on aluminium for comparison. The impact of the ageing on the strength and stiffness of the silicone joint was assessed by uniaxial tensile tests that were conducted on both non-aged and aged specimens. Despite a slight decrease in the mechanical properties of aged specimens (3.4% in strength and 24.9% in stiffness), they remained functional and compliant with legislative requirements. The results demonstrate the suitability of this HAA method for practical use, as the testing duration (approximately 7–8 months after the start of the project) and required effort (roughly 0.4–0.5% of a medium-large project budget) can be accommodated within a project timeline. Experimental results also demonstrate that joints composed of materials used in the test may be used in practice.