Cross laminated timber (CLT): overview

and development
Cross laminated timber (CLT) has become a well-known engineered timber
product of global interest. The orthogonal, laminar structure allows its
application as a full-size wall and floor element as well as a linear timber
member, able to bear loads in- and out-of-plane. This article provides a state-
of-the-art report on some selected topics related to CLT, in particular
production and technology, characteristic material properties, design and
connections. Making use of general information concerning the product’s
development and global market, the state of knowledge is briefly outlined,
including the newest findings and related references for background
information. In view of ongoing global activities, a significant rise in
production volume within the next decade is expected. Prerequisites for the
establishment of a solid timber construction system using CLT are (1)
standards comprising the product, testing and design, (2) harmonized load-
bearing models for calculating CLT properties based on the properties of the
base material board, enabling relatively fast use of local timber species and
qualities, and (3) the development of CLT adequate connection systems for
economic assembling and an increasing degree of utilization regarding the
load-bearing potential of CLT elements in the joints. The establishment of a
worldwide harmonized package of standards is recommended as this would
broaden the fields of application for timber engineering and strengthen CLT
in competition with solid-mineral based building materials.

R Brandner, G Flatscher, A Ringhofer… - European Journal of Wood and Wood Products , 2016 –
Springer

Experimental analysis of cross-laminated

timber panels in fire
Design models of timber structures in fire usually take into account the loss
in cross-section due to charring of wood. For cross-laminated timber panels
in fire only little information on charring is available. The paper describes
and discusses the results of an extensive testing programme on the fire
behaviour of cross-laminated timber panels under ISO-fire exposure. The
fire tests were performed on the small horizontal furnace (1.0×0.8 m) at the
Empa in Duebendorf. Particular attention is given to the comparison of the
fire behaviour of cross-laminated timber panels with homogeneous timber
panels. The results of the fire tests showed that the fire behaviour of cross-
laminated timber panels is strongly influenced by the behaviour of the
adhesive used for bonding the cross-laminated timber panels. Depending
on the properties of the adhesives at elevated temperatures falling off of the
charred layers was clearly observed during the fire tests, leading to
increased charring rates in comparison to homogeneous timber panels.
This is the same effect as observed for initially protected timber members
after the fire protection has fallen off. For the specimens where no falling
off of the charred layers was observed the fire behaviour was similar to that
of homogeneous timber panels.
A Frangi, M Fontana, E Hugi, R Jübstl - Fire Safety Journal, 2009 – Elsevier