Summary
This report, titled TimberFlow, outlines the development of an open-source software tool designed to make mass timber construction more efficient and accessible in Ireland. The project was led by Dr. Muhammad Gulzari from University College Dublin, supported by a team including Dr. Patrick McGatrick from University of Galway, Prakhar Parashar, Research Assistant, and Lee Murphy, Director and Project Manager at G-Frames Structures Ltd. These members represent a collaboration between University College Dublin (UCD), the University of Galway, and G-Frame Structures Ltd.
The main finding of the report is that while timber is a sustainable and high-performing alternative to concrete and steel, its use in Ireland is limited by the complexity of structural design rules. To solve this, the team created the TimberFlow tool using the Python programming language. This tool automates the difficult calculations required by European building standards (Eurocode 5), covering essential parts of a building like beams, columns, frames, and connections.
By simplifying these calculations, the tool helps engineers design timber buildings faster and with fewer errors. This is particularly important for addressing Ireland’s current housing crisis, as timber allows for quicker, high-quality construction compared to traditional methods. The report concludes that providing engineers with free, transparent, and easy-to-use digital tools is a key step toward making timber a mainstream choice for residential and mid-rise buildings in Ireland.
The project was a collaborative effort between academic and industrial partners under the Construct Innovate research center (Built Environment Research Ireland). University College Dublin (UCD) served as the lead beneficiary and project coordinator, with the School of Civil Engineering managing the core technical development and project management. The University of Galway contributed research expertise to the project team. On the industrial side, G-Frame Structures Ltd played a vital role by providing practical engineering insights and ensuring the software met the real-world needs of structural designers. This partnership ensured that the tool was not just a theoretical academic exercise but a practical solution tested against industry requirements. The project was funded as part of the 2023 Seed Fund to foster innovation in the Irish built environment.
The TimberFlow project significantly impacts the construction industry by streamlining the structural design process for mass timber. Traditionally, engineers had to perform manual calculations across multiple spreadsheets, which was time-consuming and prone to human error. TimberFlow consolidates these tasks into a single, automated desktop environment, allowing for rapid evaluation of different design scenarios. This efficiency enables firms to conduct early-stage feasibility assessments much faster, helping developers make informed decisions about using timber instead of traditional materials. Furthermore, because the tool is open-source and strictly follows Eurocode 5 standards, it promotes a standardized, reliable approach to timber design across the Irish market. By lowering the technical barriers and reducing design costs, the project supports the broader adoption of sustainable timber in large-scale housing projects.
The TimberFlow project delivers a significant scientific impact by bridging the gap between theoretical structural mechanics and practical digital application. A core scientific contribution is the rigorous algorithmic implementation of Eurocode 5 design philosophy, translating complex material strength reduction procedures and interaction expressions into deterministic computational routines. By utilizing Python and the PyQt framework, the research establishes a modular software architecture tailored for scientific computing and numerical analysis in timber engineering.
Furthermore, the project champions “Open Science” principles by depositing the complete source code in the Zenodo repository, ensuring full research transparency and reproducibility. This provides a flexible foundation for future academic inquiry into advanced topics such as long-term creep analysis and probabilistic reliability assessments. Ultimately, TimberFlow advances the field by offering a transparent, verifiable platform that allows researchers to modify parameters and test new analytical methods, fostering continuous innovation in sustainable structural design.
The TimberFlow project addresses critical societal challenges by facilitating the rapid delivery of sustainable housing in Ireland. Facing a severe housing crisis characterized by rising homelessness and insufficient supply, the Irish public directly benefits from technologies that accelerate construction timelines. By streamlining timber design, the tool supports a shift away from slow, high-cost traditional methods toward faster prefabrication, which can help stabilize property prices and increase the availability of high-quality homes.
Furthermore, as an open-source resource, TimberFlow promotes educational equity by providing students and early-career engineers with free, transparent tools to master complex structural standards. This capacity building ensures a more skilled workforce capable of implementing green building practices. Ultimately, the project enhances public welfare by fostering an environmentally sustainable built environment and providing a scalable technological solution to one of the country’s most pressing social issues.
Collaborators
Principal Investigator
Dr. Muhammad Gulzari
University College Dublin
Muhammad is Assistant Professor at the School of Civil Engineering, University College Dublin. His research deals with mechanics and physics of artificially engineered structured materials for wave manipulation such as acoustic metamaterials and mechanical metamaterials.
Dr Patrick McGetrick,
Associate Professor in Structural Engineering at University of Galway; Principal Investigator in the Timber Engineering Research Group (TERG)
Patrick is a structural engineer with 17 years’ experience across structural design, analysis and dynamics. He is currently an Associate Professor in Civil Engineering and Director of the Timber Engineering Research Group at University of Galway, carrying out research and teaching in timber engineering and sustainable infrastructure systems.
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