ENGINEERED WOOD STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

Abstract

An engineered wood structural system including multiple vertical structural elements (10) and multiple horizontal structural elements (20, 120) wherein multiple horizontal structural elements (20, 120) of the same floor level are laterally adjacent slabs connected to each other through a perimetral region of the upper horizontal board of one slab attached to a perimetral region of the upper horizontal board of other laterally adjacent slab directly, through complementary staggered steps or through a joint connector, to transfer horizontal loads.

Claims

1. An engineered wood structural system made of engineered wood components, the engineered wood components comprising: at least one vertical structural element with several structural nodes on different vertical positions, corresponding to different floor levels; multiple horizontal structural element, each made up of an upper horizontal board and a lower horizontal board facing each other, separated to each other in a vertical direction and rigidly connected to each other through second spacers comprised between said upper and lower horizontal boards; the multiple horizontal structural elements of the same floor level are laterally adjacent slabs connected to each other through a perimetral region of the upper horizontal board of one slab attached to a perimetral region of the upper horizontal board of other laterally adjacent slab directly, through complementary staggered steps or through a joint connector adhered to two adjacent portions of the upper horizontal board in a connection area adjacent to an edge between two adjacent slab segments connected to each other, to transfer horizontal loads.

2. The engineered wood structural system according to claim 1, wherein the vertical structural element includes, on each structural node, at least one first seat and wherein at least one horizontal structural element supported on each structural node includes at least one second seat supported and vertically overlapped on the at least one first seat of the vertical structural element.

3. The engineered wood structural system according to claim 1, wherein multiple horizontal structural elements of the same floor level are laterally adjacent slabs and are connected to each other also through a perimetral region of the lower horizontal board of one of said laterally adjacent slabs attached to a perimetral region of the lower horizontal board of the other laterally adjacent slab to transfer horizontal loads.

4. The engineered wood structural system according to claim 1, wherein: the slabs are post-stressed slabs including multiple slab post-stressed cables parallel to each other or disposed in two crossed directions; or the slabs are multiple aligned consecutive post-stressed slabs including multiple continuous slab post-stressed cables parallel to each other or disposed in two crossed directions, at least some of said slab post-stressed cables passing along all said consecutive slabs.

5. The engineered wood structural system according to claim 1, wherein the second spacers include one or several central vertical boards and/or several central vertical boards arranged in orthogonal directions and/or a rigid foam rigidly connecting the upper and lower horizontal boards and/or several piled horizontal boards and/or several piled horizontal boards with oriented fibers parallel to each other and/or several piled horizontal boards with oriented fibers distributed in perpendicular directions in successive board.

6. The engineered wood structural system according to claim 2, wherein the second seat is a region, or a reinforced region, of the lower horizontal board and/or a portion, or a reinforced portion, of the second spacer non-covered by the lower horizontal board and/or a portion, or a reinforced portion, of the upper board extended in cantilever from the rest of the horizontal structural element, and wherein the second seat is supported on the first seat directly or through an interposed element or an engineered wood, metal or plastic interposed element.

7. The engineered wood structural system according to claim 2, wherein, in at least one structural node the upper and lower horizontal boards of at least one horizontal structural element connected to said structural node are separated from the vertical structural element by a gap distance, and the first and second seats are configured to reduce or avoid the transmission of bending forces, defining an articulated joint between the horizontal structural element and the vertical structural element.

8. The engineered wood structural system according to claim 2, wherein, in at least one structural node the upper and lower horizontal boards, of the at least one horizontal structural element connected to said structural node, are respectively in direct contact or connected through hardened adhesives to opposed vertical sides of the vertical structural element, transmitting bending forces to the vertical structural element defining a rigid joint between the horizontal structural element and the vertical structural element.

9. The engineered wood structural system according to claim 1, wherein horizontal structural elements of the same floor level are spaced apart by a gap distance and the gap distance is covered by one or several slab segments supported on the horizontal structural elements surrounding said gap distance, each slab segment including an upper horizontal board and a lower horizontal board facing each other, separated to each other in a vertical direction and rigidly connected to each other through third spacers comprised between the upper and lower horizontal boards of the slab segment.

10. The engineered wood structural system according to claim 9, wherein a perimetral region of the upper horizontal board of the slab segment is attached to the upper horizontal board (21) of the surrounding horizontal structural elements and/or to the upper horizontal board of an adjacent slab segment, directly, through complementary staggered steps or through a joint connector adhered to two adjacent portions of the upper horizontal board in a connection area adjacent to an edge between two adjacent slab segments connected to each other to transfer horizontal traction loads.

11. The engineered wood structural system according to claim 10, wherein a perimetral region of the lower horizontal board of the slab segment is attached to a perimetral region of the lower horizontal board of the surrounding horizontal structural elements and/or to the lower horizontal board of an adjacent slab segment, directly, through complementary staggered steps or through an interposed connector adhered to the perimetral zone of the lower horizontal board, to transfer horizontal compression loads.

12. The engineered wood structural system according to claim 1, wherein the engineered wood elements connected to each other have a tolerance gap between them filled with hardened adhesive, or a tolerance gap of up to 25 mm between them filled with hardened adhesive when no shear loads are transmitted through said hardened adhesive, or a tolerance gap of up to 1 mm between them filled with hardened adhesive when shear loads are transmitted through said hardened adhesive.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0141] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and non-limitative manner, in which:

[0142] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of a building under construction using the present engineered wood structural system, this figure showing a squared matrix of sixteen vertical structural elements connected supporting one first structural floor level completely covered by slab segments and supporting a matrix of beams for a second structural floor level overlapped to the first structural floor level, the vertical structural elements projecting upwards from said second structural floor level ready for supporting a matrix of beams of a third structural floor level;

[0143] FIG. 1b shows a perspective view of a building under construction using the present engineered wood structural system, according to an embodiment in which half of the building has isolated vertical structural elements and the other half of the building has structural walls made of aligned vertical structural elements;

[0144] FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of a building under construction using the present engineered wood structural system, according to an embodiment in which the horizontal structural elements are slabs, each connected to one or two structural nodes, and including slab segments placed between, and supported to, said slabs defining a floor level;

[0145] FIG. 2a shows a beam according to one embodiment including two parallel central vertical salts;

[0146] FIG. 2b shows an exploded view of the beam of FIG. 2a;

[0147] FIG. 3a shows an alternative embodiment of the beam shown on FIG. 2a including a post-stressed cable comprised between the two parallel central vertical boards;

[0148] FIG. 3b is an exploded view of FIG. 3a;

[0149] FIG. 4 is an exploded view and a perspective view of a vertical structural element segment including four vertical strut segments, vertical structural element spacer and four first seats intended for receiving and supporting four converging beams;

[0150] FIG. 5a shows a perspective view of an assembly step of a node of the structural system where two aligned beams are connected to a vertical structural element segment, the vertical structural element segment including two vertical strut segments and two first seats, one of the beams being connected to one of said first seats and one beam being separated for clarity;

[0151] FIG. 5b shows a further assembly step of the same node shown on FIG. 5a, where both converging beams are supported on the first seats and where the upper connector, the lower connector and the subsequent vertical structural element segment are shown in an exploded view;

[0152] FIG. 5c shows the node shown on FIGS. 5a and 5b completely assembled where the two consecutive vertical structural element segments have respective vertical strut segments adhered to each other producing a continuous vertical structural element;

[0153] FIG. 6A shows a view equivalent to FIG. 5b but for a node where four converging beams are supported on four first seats of the same vertical structural element segment but for a node where successive aligned vertical strut segments are connected to each other through four vertical connectors surrounding the node;

[0154] FIG. 6B shows the node shown on FIG. 6A completely assembled where the two consecutive vertical structural element segments have respective vertical strut segments adhered to each other though said vertical connectors producing a continuous vertical structural element;

[0155] FIG. 6C shows a vertical cross section through two vertical connectors of the structural node shown in FIG. 6B, wherein vertical loads transmission through one of said vertical connectors are shown as vertical arrows and wherein tolerance gaps between the vertical connector and the vertical structural element segments are shown filled with hardened adhesive;

[0156] FIG. 6D shows a horizontal cross section through the lower connector of the structural node shown in FIG. 6B wherein compression of the lower connector by the four converging lower horizontal boards are shown as arrows and wherein tolerance gaps between the lower connector and the horizontal structural elements are shown filled with hardened adhesive;

[0157] FIG. 6E shows a horizontal cross section through the upper connector of the structural node shown in FIG. 6B wherein the traction loads on the right side are bigger than the traction loads in the left side, producing a net right traction load which is transferred by the vertical connector to two vertical struts of the left side of the vertical structural element and wherein tolerance gaps between the upper connector and the vertical struts are shown filled with hardened adhesive;

[0158] FIG. 6F shows an alternative embodiment of FIG. 6A wherein the first seats protrude outwardly from the vertical structural element and the space between the converging horizontal structural elements is slightly bigger, including a bigger lower connector;

[0159] FIG. 6G shows the node shown on FIG. 6A but according to an alternative embodiment according to which the vertical connectors does not include staggered step configurations and according to which the second spacers of the horizontal structural elements are overlapped horizontal boards piled between the upper and lower boards;

[0160] FIG. 6H shows the node shown on FIG. 6A but according to an alternative embodiment according to which the vertical connectors, and the upper and lower connectors, are made of metal or carbon fiber and does not include staggered step configurations and according to which the second spacers of the horizontal structural elements are overlapped horizontal boards piled between the upper and lower boards; FIG. 7A shows a perspective view of an assembly step of a node of the structural system where one slab including a lower horizontal board, an upper horizontal board and second spacers defined by crossed ribs, the slab including four vertical through holes on its center and being connected to one vertical structural element segment which includes four vertical strut segments, one on each vertical through hole, and four first seats;

[0161] FIG. 7B shows the node shown on FIG. 7A completely assembled where the two consecutive vertical structural element segments have respective vertical strut segments adhered to each other though said vertical connectors producing a continuous vertical structural element;

[0162] FIG. 8a shows an embodiment equivalent to that shown on FIG. 5b but for a node where three beams converge on the same vertical structural element segment which include three first seats, two aligned beams and one beam perpendicular to the other two beams, and where the upper connector include three horizontal connector arms;

[0163] FIG. 8b shows the node shown on FIG. 8a further including vertical connectors, which are shown in exploded position, to be adhered to the vertical pillar surfaces of two successive vertical strut segments of the vertical structural element;

[0164] FIG. 9a shows a perspective view of a matrix of beams with one slab segment, made of three slab segments, installed therein, the central slab segment being shown in an exploded view;

[0165] FIG. 9b shows the same than FIG. 9a but with the three slab segments being installed on the matrix of beams, showing the second rib joints and the upper sheet joints in an exploded view;

[0166] FIG. 9C is an exploded section view of one beam and two adjacent slab segments supported on said beams;

[0167] FIG. 9D is the same view than the FIG. 9C but in an assembled position, where the upper horizontal board and the lower horizontal sheet of both adjacent slab segments are connected to each other;

[0168] FIGS. 9E, 9F and 9G show a cross section of three alternative embodiments of two adjacent slab segments supported on a beam, different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 9D;

[0169] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a matrix of beams of one structural floor level including a schematic view of the disposition of the slab post-tensioning cables within the structural floor level, showing, of each slab segment, only two first and second ribs for clarity reasons;

[0170] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a structural wall comprising a beam supported on multiple aligned vertical structural elements each including two vertical struts and two vertical connectors, the beam including a reinforced portion with an additional lower horizontal board for a door opening, and one end of the beam being connected with other two beams by an upper connector and a lower connector.

[0171] On the drawings a shading has been added on the surfaces where adhesive is applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0172] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and not limitative.

[0173] According to one embodiment, the engineered wood structural system of the present invention can be used to erect a multi-floor building with multiple stacked structural floor levels, for example, between five and twenty structural floor levels, wherein each vertical structural element 10 is an isolated vertical structural element connected with two, three or four horizontal structural elements 120, 20, in the form of beams 20, converging on a structural node of said vertical structural element 10 for each structural floor level. In those buildings, the structural nodes are preferably rigid nodes connecting the beams and the vertical structural elements. Similarly, the horizontal structural element can be one or several slabs 120 connected to the structural node of the vertical structural element 10.

[0174] Alternatively, the building can include rigid elements covering the entire height of the building, such a rigid core (typically the staircase or the elevator enclosure) or diagonal elements connecting some structural nodes of different levels.

[0175] The proposed engineered wood structural system can also be used to erect a multi-floor building with structural walls, for example a balloon or platform frame building, where said structural walls are made of a succession of parallel aligned vertical structural elements supporting one continuous horizontal structural element, in the form of a beam or of a slab.

[0176] The proposed engineered wood structural system also allows for a mixed structure combining structural walls, made of aligned vertical structural elements supporting one beam, and isolated vertical structural elements, as shown in FIG. 1b, in which case the structural walls can actuate as a rigid core for the isolated vertical structural elements, in which case the rigidity of the structural nodes is optional.

[0177] In FIG. 1A an example of a building partially erected is shown where all the horizontal structural elements are horizontal beams 20 orthogonal to each other defining a squared matrix of beams 20 for each structural floor level.

[0178] As shown on FIGS. 2a and 2b, each beam 20 comprises one upper horizontal board 21 and one lower horizontal board 22 parallel to each other separated a distance and connected to each other through second spacers 23, which in this embodiment are two parallel central vertical boards perpendicular to said upper and lower horizontal boards 21 and 22 and adhered thereto, providing an i-shaped beam 20 with double central vertical board. This shape has an optimal relation between resistance, cost and weight.

[0179] In this embodiment the upper horizontal board 21 and the lower horizontal board 22, both mainly resisting loads parallel to their main longitude, are made of laminated strand lumber.

[0180] Each of the two parallel central vertical boards have two end portions 23a. Each end portion 23a, which in this example are made of a resistant engineered wood material such plywood, is adjacent to one vertical structural element 10 where the beam 20 is supported, the rest of said two parallel central vertical boards, between the two end portions 23a, is made in this example of a cheaper and less resistant engineered wood material such as oriented strand board because on that central portion the loads are much less than in the end portions 23a.

[0181] As shown for example on FIGS. 4 and 5a, each vertical structural element 10 include a first seat 11 for each horizontal structural element supported on said vertical structural element 10, and the horizontal structural element includes a second seat configured to be supported on top of said first seat 11.

[0182] When reduced loads are transferred from the horizontal structural element to the vertical structural element 10, for example when a beam 20 is supported on multiple aligned vertical structural elements 10, as shown for example on FIG. 11, the beam 20 can be supported on the first seat 11 of each vertical structural element 10 through second seats defined in the lower horizontal board 22, compressing said lower horizontal board 22 in a vertical direction which is sub-optimal but resistant enough for such reduced loads.

[0183] When the loads transferred from the beam 20 to the vertical structural elements 10 are significant, for example when a long beam comprised between 3 m and 8 m is supported on the vertical structural elements 10 only on its ends, the end portion 23a of said two central vertical boards of each beam 20 will be vertically supported on said first seat 11, transferring vertical loads from the beam 20 to the vertical structural element 10 in a direction parallel to the main surface of the central vertical boards which is optimal for load transfer.

[0184] Because this load transfer generates compression loads and shear loads on said end portion 23a of the central vertical boards, said end portions 23a are preferably made of engineered wood including veneer fibers in different directions, such as plywood.

[0185] In the example shown in the figures, each first seat 11 may comprise two vertical and parallel boards perpendiculars to the central vertical boards to be supported, each board including one central notch between two horizontal support areas. Each of the support areas is intended to be in contact with one of the two central vertical boards of the beam 20 to be supported and the central notch is intended to house the end portion 22a of the lower horizontal board 22 of the beam 20 supported on said first seat 11, preventing the contact between said end portion 22a and the first seat 11. Alternatively, the first seats 11 are an engineered wood block attached to the vertical struts.

[0186] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, each vertical structural element 10 include multiple vertical struts 12 continuous along the entire longitude of the building, said vertical struts 12 being separated in the horizontal direction by vertical structural element spacers 14 placed between and adhered to said struts 12, generating a hollow vertical structural element 10. The separation between the struts 12 of the vertical structural element allow the insertion of the end portion of all the beams converging on said vertical structural element 10, including the end portions 23a of the correspondent central vertical boards, in said space between the struts 12 of the vertical structural element 10, allowing the vertical continuity of the struts 12, which surround the end portion of the beams 20.

[0187] The first seats 11 are also included between and adhered to the struts 12, said first seats 11 being interposed between, and connected to, the struts 12 within the hollow vertical structural element, permitting the transfer of loads from the beams 20 to the vertical structural element in an area close to the geometric center of the vertical structural element 10, reducing the bending loads generated on the vertical structural element 10.

[0188] The loads transferred from the beams 20 to the vertical structural elements 10 through said first seats 11 are concentrated on said struts 12, accumulated from the multiple structural floor levels and conducted to the foundation where said vertical structural elements 10 are supported.

[0189] The multiple beams 20 of the same structural floor level converging on the same vertical structural element 10 are connected to each other at least through an upper connector 40 and through a lower connector 50, as shown in FIGS. 5b to 8b.

[0190] The upper connector 40 is a flat horizontal sheet including as many horizontal connector arms 41 as beams 20 of the same structural floor level converge on said vertical structural element 10, being the angular distribution of said horizontal connector arms 41 coincident with the angular distribution of the beams 20 converging on said vertical structural element 10.

[0191] Each horizontal connector arm 41 is adhered to the end portion 21a of one upper horizontal board 21 of one beam 20 supported on said vertical structural element 10. Said upper connector 40 transmits loads between the upper horizontal boards 21 of all the beams 20 converging on said vertical structural element 10.

[0192] According to a preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the end portion 21a of each upper horizontal board 21 and the horizontal connector arm 41 adhered thereto include complementary recessed staggered steps coupled and adhered to each other, each step being a flat surface parallel to the upside main surface of the upper horizontal board 21. Said connection through recessed staggered steps produces a distributed transfer of the loads and also allows the upper connector 41 to be flush with said upside main surface of the upper horizontal board 21 of the beam 20. Said upper connector 40 is preferably made of engineered wood including veneer fibers in different directions, such as plywood.

[0193] The lower connector 50 comprises a tapered shape block, for example an inverted frusto-pyramidal shape, tightly inserted in a descendent direction between the end portion 22a of the lower horizontal boards 22 of the beams 20 of the same structural floor level converging on the same vertical structural element 20. Said lower connector 50 transmits loads between the lower horizontal boards 22 of the converging beams 20 of the same structural floor level.

[0194] Each lower horizontal board 22 may include a reinforcement adhered to its end portion 22a, between the two central vertical boards of the beam 20, producing an increase in the thickness and in the resistance of said end portion 22a of the lower horizontal board 22 which contacts with the lower connector 50.

[0195] As shown in FIGS. 5b, 6a and 8a, said lower connector 50 is a tapered shape block inserted in the center of the hollow vertical structural element 10 defined between the vertical struts 12 constitutive of said vertical structural element 10, between the end portion of the converging beams 20, said lower connector 50 being compressed between the end portion 22a of the lower horizontal boards 22 of the converging beams 20 of the same structural floor level.

[0196] Optionally, each beam 20 can be also connected to the vertical structural element 10 through at least one vertical connector 60 made of a vertical sheet of engineered wood, as shown on FIGS. 7a to 8b.

[0197] Each vertical connector 60 is adhered to one vertical pillar surface 10a of one vertical strut 12 of the vertical structural element 10, below and above the structural node.

[0198] Said vertical connector 60 transmits shear, bending and twisting loads from the beams 20 to the struts 12 of the vertical structural element 10, and is preferably made of engineered wood including veneer fibers in different directions, such as plywood.

[0199] Each strut 12 of one single continuous vertical structural element 10 is typically made of multiple successive vertical strut segments 13 rigidly connected to each other, each vertical strut segment 13 having the same high as the distance between successive structural floor levels.

[0200] According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5b and 5c two successive vertical strut segments 13 constitutive of the same strut 12 include complementary recessed staggered steps on its ends which are coupled and adhered to each other providing a vertical continuity and a vertical transmission of loads.

[0201] According to an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 7a to 8b, two successive vertical strut segments 13 constitutive of the same strut 12 are connected to each other through the vertical connector 60 adhered to the vertical pillar surface 10a of the vertical strut segments 13 placed below the beam 20 and to the vertical pillar surface 10a of the vertical strut segments 13 placed above the beam 20.

[0202] Preferably each of said vertical strut segments 13 is connected to the vertical connector 60 through complementary recessed staggered steps parallel to the vertical pillar surface 10a included in the vertical strut segments 13 and in the vertical connector 60, to provide a distributed load transmission. Said complementary recessed staggered steps provide a vertical continuity and a vertical transmission of loads.

[0203] In some cases, it is preferred to connect vertical strut segments 13 having different cross sectional area, typically having the lower vertical strut segments 13 bigger cross sectional area to withstand bigger accumulated loads, producing a vertical structural element 10 with an increasing section and an increasing resistance.

[0204] All the embodiments described in regard to the connection between one or several beams 20 and one structural node of one vertical structural element 10 are also applicable to a connection between one or several slabs 120 and the structural node of the vertical structural element 10, for example, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

[0205] In those examples, the slab 120 include in its central region as many squared vertical through holes as vertical struts has the vertical structural element where it is supported, four in this example, defining a branched portion between the through holes which is housed in the hollow interior of the vertical structural element. As will be obvious, when several slabs 120 are supported on the same structural node, the number of vertical through holes on each slab 120 is only a portion of the total number of vertical struts of the vertical structural element on which are supported and said through holes will be then adjacent to an edge or to a corner of the slab 120.

[0206] In the example shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B the second spacers 23 of the slab 120 are an array of crossed ribs and the second seat include a region of said second spacers more densely populated. In this example also the upper board of the horizontal structural element include a reinforcement defined by a thickened portion of the upper board, coincident with the branched portion defined between the vertical through holes, for improving the horizontal resistance of the upper board in said region.

[0207] Between the frame defined between four orthogonal beams 20 of the same structural floor level is covered by a slab segment 30 supported on said beams 20.

[0208] Each slab segment 30 include an upper horizontal board 33, a lower horizontal board 34 parallel to each other and connected to each other through first ribs 31 parallel to each other and second ribs 32 perpendicular to the first ribs 31 interposed between said upper and lower horizontal boards 33 and 34.

[0209] The upper horizontal board 33 is bigger than the foot-print of the hollow space defined between said beams 20 where the slab segment 30 is supported. The upper horizontal board 33 include a perimetral zone supported on and adhered to the upper horizontal boards 21 of said beams 20.

[0210] The upper horizontal board 33 is connected to the upper horizontal board 33 of adjacent slab segments 30, for example through complementary recessed staggered steps provided in the perimetral zone of the upper horizontal boards 33 of both upper horizontal boards 33 of adjacent slab segments 30 connected to each other or through upper sheet connectors 36 adhered to the perimetral zone of the upper horizontal boards 33 of both upper horizontal boards 33 of adjacent slab segments 30 connected to each other. In this case the upper sheet connectors 36 are elongated slats connecting the perimetral zone of both upper horizontal boards 33, preferably said elongated slats being inserted in recessed areas of said perimetral zone and being flush with the upper horizontal boards 33, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0211] The lower horizontal board 34 is equal or smaller than the foot-print of the hollow space defined between said beams 20 on which the slab segment 30 is supported. Said lower horizontal board 34 include a perimetral zone adhered to the surrounding beams 20, preferably to the surrounding central vertical boards of said beams 20, through a lower sheet connector 35, which in this example is a slat adhered to the perimetral zone of the lower horizontal board 34, for example through complementary recessed staggered steps adhered to each other, and to the central vertical board.

[0212] In this embodiment the at least one central vertical board of the beam 20 are two parallel central vertical boards including a compression configuration in between to transmit loads from between the lower sheet connectors 35 of two different slab segments adhered on both sides of the same beam 20. In this example, the compression configuration is a transversal rib interposed between the two parallel central vertical boards, perpendicular to said two central vertical boards and parallel to, and preferably coplanar with, the lower horizontal boards 34 both adjacent slab segments 30.

[0213] The proposed slab segment 30 can be divided in three adjacent and coplanar slab segments 30a, 30b and 30b, each having approximately one third of the total surface of the slab segment 30, each slab segment 30a, 30b and 30c including a portion of the upper horizontal board 33, a portion of the lower horizontal board 34, a number of first ribs 31 and a portion of all the second ribs 32, said three slab segments 30a, 30b and 30c being connected to each other through slab joints.

[0214] Each slab joint includes an upper sheet joint, a lower sheet joint and a second rib joint for each single second rib 32.

[0215] The upper sheet joint comprises an upper sheet joint connector 37 adhered to two adjacent portions of the upper horizontal board 33 in a connection area adjacent to an edge between two adjacent slab segments 30a, 30b, 30c connected to each other, for example through complementary recessed staggered steps provided in the upper sheet joint connector 37 and in the connection area of the adjacent upper horizontal board, said complementary recessed staggered steps being coupled and adhered to each other.

[0216] The lower sheet joint comprises complementary recessed staggered steps provided on two adjacent portions of the lower horizontal board 34 in a connection area adjacent to an edge between two adjacent slab segments 30a, 30b, 30c connected to each other, said complementary recessed staggered steps being coupled and adhered to each other.

[0217] Alternatively, said lower sheet joint comprises a lower sheet connector adhered to two adjacent portions of the lower horizontal board 34 in a connection area adjacent to an edge between two adjacent slab segments 30a, 30b, 30c connected to each other.

[0218] Each second rib joint comprises complementary recessed staggered steps provided on two adjacent portions of the second rib 32 in a connection area adjacent to an edge between two adjacent slab segments 30a, 30b, 30c connected to each other, said complementary recessed staggered steps being coupled and adhered to each other.

[0219] Alternatively, each second rib joint comprises a second rib connector 39, in this case a small flat piece made of engineered wood adhered to two adjacent portions of the second rib 32 in a connection area adjacent to an edge between two adjacent slab segments 30a, 30b, 30c connected to each other, providing structural continuity between the portions of the second rib 32 connected through it.

[0220] Typically, the three slab segments 30a, 30b and 30c are installed adjacent to each other, supporting said slab segments 30a, 30b and 30c on the surrounding beams 20 through the perimetral zone of the upper horizontal board 33 and respective lower horizontal board portions are connected to each other through the lower sheet joints. Then the portions of the second ribs 32 of the different slab segments 30a, 30b and 30c are connected to each other by the second rib joints. Finally, the upper horizontal board portions are connected to each other by the upper sheet joint connectors 37 adhered thereto.

[0221] According to an additional embodiment, each slab segment 30 is a post-stressed slab segment includes several slab post-stressed cables 73 parallel to the first ribs 31, each slab post-stressed cable 73 extending across the slab segment 30 in tension and having opposed ends adjacent to the perimetral zone of the upper horizontal board 33 and having a central region adjacent to the lower horizontal board 34 of the slab segment 30, providing an increase in the overall structural resistance of the slab segment 30.

[0222] Optionally the slab segment further comprises several slab post-stressed cables 73 parallel to the second ribs 32, providing a bidirectional post-tensioning of the slab segment 30.

[0223] When multiple consecutive slab segments 30 are post-stressed slab segments, at least some of the slab post-stressed cables 73 can be continuous along all said consecutive slab segments 30. In that case, the slab post-stressed cables 73 pass from one slab segment 30 to the adjacent one above the beam 20 interposed between said adjacent slab segments 30.

[0224] It is also contemplated that said slab post-stressed cables 73 are inserted in slab cable sleeves, each slab segment 30 including one slab cable sleeve for each slab post-stressed cable 73 reproducing its path, the slab cable sleeves of the adjacent slab segments 30 being connected to each other through sleeve connectors placed above the beams 20 interposed between the adjacent slab segments 30. In that manner the slab cable sleeves can be installed in the slab segments before the installation of said slab segments 30 within the structural system, and later connected to each other through the sleeve connectors once in place.

[0225] In a similar manner, each beam 20 can be a post-stressed beam including at least one post-stressed cable 70 between the two opposed ends thereof, the opposed ends of said at least one beam 20 retaining the at least one post-stressed cable 70 in an upper position adjacent to the upper horizontal board 21 and a central region of said at least one beam 20, placed between said opposed ends, retaining the at least one post-stressed cable 70 in a lower position adjacent to the lower horizontal board 22. In the example shown on FIGS. 3a and 3b the post-stressed cable 70 is placed between two parallel central vertical boards, and the beam 20 includes three cable retainers interposed to, and perpendicular to, said two parallel central vertical boards. One cable retainer is in the center of the beam, retaining the post-stressed cable 70 on its lower end, and two cable retainers are in the opposed ends of the beam each retaining the post-stressed cable 70 on their respective upper ends, defining a V-shaped post-stressed cable 70.

[0226] Also, multiple consecutive beams 20 can including at least one continuous post-stressed cable 70 passing along all said consecutive beams 20. Optionally said continuous pre-stressed cable 70 can be inserted in one cable sleeve pre-installed on each beam 20, the cable sleeves of all said consecutive beams 20 being connected to each other through sleeve connectors.

[0227] It will be understood that various parts of one embodiment of the invention can be freely combined with parts described in other embodiments, even being said combination not explicitly described, provided there is no harm in such combination.

[0228] It will be understood that various parts of one embodiment of the invention can be freely combined with parts described in other embodiments, even being said combination not explicitly described, provided that such combination is within the scope of the claims and that there is no harm in such combination.

[0229] Different sub-elements constitutive of the proposed engineered wood structural system can be separately produced in a factory, transported to the building site, and later assembled together and attached using adhesives to obtain the structure.

[0230] The cited sub-elements constitutive of the proposed system can include, for example, the horizontal structural elements, the slab segments and vertical structural element segments corresponding to portions of a vertical structural element 10, each vertical structural element segment including at least one structural node, the upper connectors and the lower connectors.