Integrated experimental and numerical study on flexural properties of cross laminated timber made of low-value sugar maple lumber

The objective of this study is to examine the mechanical performance cross laminated timber (CLT) panels made low-value sugar maple under out plane loads through tests and numerical simulation. laminations were sorted into High Low classes based on measured modulus elasticity (MOE). Two 3-layer CLT layups as High-Low-High Low-High-Low glued with resorcinol-based adhesive one layup melamine-based prepared. Block shear, long-span bending (span-to-depth ratio 33:1) short-span (5.5:1) conducted evaluate bonding, flexural shear behavior these CLTs. With a limited sample size, lab-manufactured provided 50% 80% higher MOE at least two times MOR than type E1 from APA/PRG 320. Similar improvements found by comparing other species literatures. finite element simulation was orthogonal constitutive law progressive damage model calibrated material properties parameters lumber rating references. results each panel have reasonable comparison experimental test data. Therefore, integrated experiment methods can provide detailed behaviors CLT, which also be applied layup.