Feasibility of glued laminated timber beams with tropical hardwoods

International audienceA feasibility study of glulam was carried out in French Guiana using local wood species. The aim was to determine gluing parameters affording satisfactory behaviour to manufactured glulam in a tropical climate. Three abundant wood species, with special properties, were selected for the study and Resorcinol-Phenol-Formaldehyde resin was used for bonding. Three industrial parameters were considered: adhesive spread rate, closed assembly time and gluing pressure. Delamination and shearing tests were carried outin accordance with European Standards. The tests revealed the influence of wood properties and manufacturing parameters on joint resistance. In fact, the results showed that specific gravity and the shrinkage coefficientgreatly influenced the gluing step. Indeed, wood with a medium specific gravity needed more adhesive and more pressure than wood with a high specific gravity. In addition, planning and lamella thicknesswere found to affect glue joint resistance