Experimental study of cross-laminated timber wall panels

The use of cross-laminated structural timber elementsis becoming increasingly popular. The number of layersvaries normally from three upwards. The structural performanceof five-layer cross-laminated timber elements was investigated.The five layers consisted of 19mm thick boards,laid successively at right angles to each other and gluedtogether with PU-adhesive, layers 1, 3 and 5 lying in onedirection and layers 2 and 4 in the other. The stiffness andstrength of four cross-laminated timber elements (4955mmlong, 1250mm wide and 96mm thick) were studied duringin-plane bending. Two of the elements were first partitionedinto two parts that were reconnected in two different waysprior to testing. The influence of the way in which the crosslaminatedtimber elements were reconnected was studied,the behaviour observed being compared with the test resultsfor the unpartitioned specimens with respect to both strengthand stiffness. The experimental tests performed showed thecross-laminated timber elements to possess a high degree ofstiffness and strength. There was also found to be a markeddifference in behaviour between the two different ways inwhich the elements were connected to each other. One of thetwo connecting methods studied, being of less good designbut earlier frequently used in Sweden, showed as expectedpoor structural performance, whereas the other one appliedas a safer alternative performed well