Operating experience with prefabricated wooden arches with rigid joints at a tennis center

Introduction. According to Federal Law No. 384 and others, buildings with large-span load-bearing structures are required to be inspected every 5–10 years, which is particularly critical for wooden structures. During installation, the moisture content of the wood increases compared to its manufacturing readiness. In the first year of wooden structure operation, during the heating season, the air humidity in the room may decrease below the permissible 40 %, causing intense shrinkage of the wood, which, in turn, provokes the appearance of cracks in structures due to uneven distribution across the cross-section. In this paper, a tennis center is considered that was first covered with prefabricated double-hinged arches with a span of 39 m and rigid joints of the TSNIISK system. Scheduled inspections of load-bearing structures were carried out by employees of the Research Institute of Building Constructions (TSNIISK) named after V.A. Koucherenko in 2025.

Aim. To perform a comprehensive inspection for assessing the condition and serviceability of structures after five years of operation.

Materials and methods. A comprehensive inspection of the support areas and rigid joints of the arches was carried out, with defects being recorded. The inspection also included measurements, checks on operating conditions, wood moisture content, the condition of fire protection, etc.

Results and conclusions. Cracks up to 100 mm deep are observed in the arches due to wood shrinkage. The indoor air humidity is 20 %, which is below the required 40 %. Wood moisture content is 10 % with a moisture difference of approximately 2 % across the depth, indicating that shrinkage process has been halted. Some rigid joints have cracks in the anchoring zone. Through cracks caused by shrinkage are detected in a single joint. Thus, instrumental monitoring and testing to confirm the strength of the joints are required. As the fire protection layer has been damaged in the leaking areas of the roof, the outline of the roof and the roofing material in the leaking areas should be changed. Provided that an automatic air humidification system is installed, the roof leaks are repaired, and the joints between the arches are structurally reinforced, the arches can operate effectively.

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