Innovative testing machine for creep tests on a structural scale under high constant load

In multi-story timber buildings using platform framing, most vertical deformations occur at the floor joints. In these areas, the floor and, in the case of timber frame constructions, the top and bottom plates are loaded perpendicular to the grain. The stiffness of the timber members in this direction is considerably low. Moreover, the literature indicates that deformations due to creep are significantly higher in this direction compared to loading parallel to the grain. However, most studies have been conducted on small-scale specimens, as creep test setups for tests on a structural level necessitating high loads are costly and challenging to handle. Towards this objective, a new testing machine was developed that employs the principle of deadweight combined with multiple levers to amplify the load. This machine can provide a high load over a long time with little effort needed to keep the load constant. Factors influencing the consistency of the load were examined to benchmark the developed machine against other available test setups.