Abstract

Using native wood species instead of introduced wood ones, like Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata), has lots of positive consequences from an environmental approach: 1) does not acidifies the soil, 2) makes possible to preserve native flora and fauna. Also, Roble (Nothofagus obliqua), Rauli (Nothofagus alpine) and Coïgue (Nothofagus dombeyi) are the most common native species and have very good structural properties compared to introduced ones. In Chile, regarding primary economic activities, forestry represents 19%. A percentage similar to the contribution to GDP of the agricultural market. However, even if today native species of wood represents 80% of surfaces of forest in the country, the exportation of native wood species represents only 2% of the total wood exportation. Also, in the local market nowadays, native species are used mainly as firewood. Could it be possible, thanks to the study of geometry, specifically an ancestral structural principle called reciprocal frames, to build big spans using only small battens? Is it possible to build structural components avoiding the use of glue or any other chemical products that have negative consequences on the environment? Platform-frame systems in Radiata Pine used for walls or for slabs could be replaced for this type of structural components? © (2023) WORLD CONFERENCE ON TIMBER ENGINEERING 2023 (WCTE 2023) All rights reserved.