Repair of the indoor swimming pool timber structure

Abstract

In this paper damages and repair interventions of the indoor swimming pool structure in Kruševac, Serbia are presented. The facility is composed of main part and annexes, built in reinforced concrete and timber. The roof structure is made of glulam Gerber beams over two spans 35 + 15 m, supported by interior timber columns. The annex load-carrying structure consists of glulam beams, supported by reinforced concrete structure and timber columns. The pool was built in 1982, and due to inadequate maintenance and exposure to adverse climatic influences, significant damages to roof cladding, secondary structural elements and main girders occurred. In the past, due to wood degradation and other damages, some repair interventions were undertaken. These interventions did not have the expected positive outcomes and resulted in closing of the pool for public. The repair interventions included replacement of the entire roof cladding, replacement and repair of damaged timber elements, repair and reinforcement of steel connection elements. Firstly, structural rehabilitation was performed to reduce stresses and deformations in certain parts of the structure. The glulam girders were supported by new steel columns, which almost completely relieved the existing timber columns. In addition, new steel columns were added to the annexes. Cracks in timber elements were injected with two-component epoxy resin of appropriate viscosity and mechanical properties. The epoxy resin was also used as a filling at the places where rot was removed within the beams and columns in the support zones. Larger rot damages on the lateral sides of the beams were repaired by removing damaged laminations, and then gluing new ones using resorcinol glue. All steel elements that had significant corrosion were replaced, and others were cleaned of rust and re-protected. As a conclusion, guidelines are given for monitoring and maintaining the facility during further exploitation.