Compressive Properties of Cross-Laminated Timber Panels Made of Hardwood Tree Species from the Appalachian Region
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 29, Issue 1
Abstract
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels are an innovative wooden product that has gained popularity in recent years because it has a high strength-to-weight ratio, improves construction efficiency, and it is a natural and renewable material. Therefore, the recently released 2021 International Building Code (IBC) include guidelines for CLT panels for the construction of buildings of up to 18 stories. The construction applications of CLT panels as well as the research initiatives have largely centered on softwood tree species such as laminates, and the application of hardwood species has yet to be investigated. This paper documents the structural behavior of several hardwood species abundant in the Appalachian region and demonstrates the promising feasibility of using these species in the construction industry with CLT panels considering the architectural and structural behavior and economic aspects. The hardwood tree species selected are abundant in the Appalachian region and this paper highlights their potential as a construction material and provides an insight for future development. Three hardwood species including red maple, sweetgum, and sycamore are considered for this study, and three- and five-ply panels are fabricated to evaluate their behavior. The samples are tested in three directions for compression to understand the orthotropic behavior. Considering the softwood species including southern yellow pine and Douglas fir as a baseline for comparison, a total of 120 samples are tested and evaluated based on ASTM standards. The results show an average higher compressive strength from sweetgum panels followed by red maple, sycamore, Douglas fir, and southern yellow pine in the main directions used for structural walls. The findings imply a potential market for the underutilized hardwood species in Appalachia, which may lead to future economic development in the region.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the University of Kentucky Office of Sustainability to conduct the study presented in this paper. The authors acknowledge the lumber from hardwood tree species donated by JT Lumber in Woodbine, KY. The authors acknowledge the donation from the Henkel company for providing the CLT glue manufacturer. The authors acknowledge Dr. Abeetha Peiris and Robert Day for the guidance and assistance in setup and use of laboratory equipment. The authors are grateful to Mr. Ed Demaree for his insights from the industry perspective.
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Published In
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 29 • Issue 1 • March 2023
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 5, 2022
Accepted: Oct 17, 2022
Published online: Dec 5, 2022
Published in print: Mar 1, 2023
Discussion open until: May 5, 2023
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