EVALUATION OF LAMINATION EFFECT ON IN-PLANE BENDING

STRENGTH OF CROSS LAMINATED TIMBER

Tsuyoshi Aoyama1, Akihisa Kitamori2, Takuro Mori2, Hiroshi Isoda2,

Yasuhiro Araki3, Takafumi Nakagawa4

ABSTRACT: Various kind of in-plane bending tests of cross laminated timber (CLT) with different shapes have been
previously carried out. The results indicate that the bending strength of CLT loaded in plane reduces as the number of
layer increases. To evaluate this lamination effect on in-plane bending strength of CLT, a computational model based on
Monte Carlo method was developed. The estimated bending strength showed the same tendency.

KEYWORDS: cross laminated timber, in-plane bending, computational model

1. INTRODUCTION 123 lamination effect in CLT beams and to acquire regression

Cross laminated timber (CLT) attracts considerable
attention in Japan from the viewpoint of promotive and
effective utilisation of domestic timber such as Japanese
Cedar. It would lead to sustainable forest management
and have a positive effect on reduction of CO2 emission.
The mechanical properties of CLT, however, has not been
sufficiently found to apply this material to large scale and
multi-story buildings. The bending strength loaded in
plane is important when CLT is used for walls. Some
results of previous tests suggest that in-plane bending
strength decreases as the number of longitudinal layer
increase. In this research, the term lamination effect is
defined as a tendency that in-plane bending strength of
CLT decreases with increasing number of longitudinal
layer. This research aims to evaluate the lamination effect
using Monte-Carlo method and to acquire a good
agreement between estimated and experimental value.
First this paper mentions some results of previous
research which suggest the existence of lamination effect.
Second, a computational model to estimate CLT bending
strength will be explained. Two types of failure criteria
are employed in the model: one assumes that CLT
bending strength is determined only by weakest lamina
and the other allows load redistribution among existing
lamina after the fracture of the first lamina. Third, the two
tests the authors conducted will be mentioned. CLT beam
bending test loaded in plane and lamina edgewise bending
test were performed in order to confirm the existence of
function between modulus of elasticity and bending
strength. Finally, CLT in-plane bending strength is
estimated by the model and the value is compared with
experimental value.
2. PREVIOUS RESEARCHES
In this section, some results of previous tests on CLT are
shown. The specimens of all tests described in this
paper were made from Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria
japonica) and manufactured according to Japanese
Agricultural Standard.
2.1. CLT BEAM BENDING TEST
Three point bending test on CLT beams with five layers
which have different size and layer composition was
conducted [1]. The specimens were composed of lamina
with finger joint (FJ). The size of specimen is illustrated
in Figure 1. A5-2 and B5-2 have two longitudinal layers,
on the other hand A5-3 and B5-3 have three. Modulus of
rupture (MOR) related to net cross section of longitudinal
layers was calculated from the maximum load.

1Tsuyoshi Aoyama, Kyoto University, Japan,

tsuyoshi_aoyama@rish.kyoto-u.ac.jp
2Akihisa Kitamori, Takuro Mori and Hiroshi Isoda,

Kyoto University, Japan

3Yasuhiro Araki, BRI, Japan
4Takafumi Nakagawa, NILIM, Japan
 vertical load
A5-3 B5-3

A5-2 B5-2

Figure 3: L-shape specimens and test setup

Maximum tensile stress of each specimen are shown in

Figure 1: Specimens for CLT beam bending test Figure 4, indicating that the strength tends to decrease as
the number of longitudinal layer increases.
In all specimens, failure was caused by bending stress
near the centre of the specimen. As shown in Figure 2, 40
MOR of specimens which have three longitudinal layers

MAX tensile stress (N/mm2)

35
tend to be lower than that of specimens with two
longitudinal layers. It should be noted that this result can 30
be caused by position of defects such as FJ or knots. 25
20
45
15
40
Bending strength (N/mm2)

10
35
5
30
0
25 L3-1 L5-2
20
Figure4: Results of L-shape test
15
10 2.3. DISCUSSION
5 The results of both tests suggest the existence of
0 lamination effect. As first step for estimation of CLT
A5-2 A5-3 B5-2 B5-3 bending strength, this research focuses on simple beams
like in section 2.1 without defect such as FJ or knots.
Figure 2: Result of CLT beam bending test
3. COMPUTATIONAL MODEL
2.2. L-SHAPE CLT PANEL TEST
3.1. OVERVIEW
L-shape CLT panels composed of lamina without FJ with To study the decrease in bending strength with increasing
three and five layers were prepared [2,3]. L3-1 and L5-2 number of layers, a simple computational model based on
have three and five layers, respectively. Horizontal load Monte Carlo method was developed. The model assumes
was applied at one side of the specimen while the other that failure occurs at one of the lamina arranged on the
side is pin connected as described in Figure 3. After the
edge of the tension side. The lamina which has minimum
test the specimens failed by bending at the beam or
maximum strain collapses first, considering lamina as a
column were chosen to obtain the maximum tensile stress perfectly elastic body during the whole process.
as the sum of the bending stress calculated by the same The first step of calculation is to allocate dynamic
method in 2.1 and tensile stress by axial load based on net modulus of elasticity (Efr) to the lamina at the edge of the
cross section area of longitudinal layers. tension side. Second, MOR of lamina is generated from
the regression equation between Efr and MOR acquired
horizontal load from edgewise bending test of lamina described later. As
1200 1200 shown in Figure5, MOR’ on the regression line is
510

calculated and then MOR is generated according to

440

normal distribution whose mean value and standard

1200

1200

deviation are MOR’ and residual standard deviation

(RSD), respectively. Maximum strain (𝜀𝑚𝑎𝑥 ) is calculated
by equation (1).
360 360

L3-1 L5-2
 𝑀𝑂𝑅 This process is repeated until it found that load
𝜀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = (1) redistribution cannot occur. In this model, decrease of
𝐸𝑓𝑟
bending strength as the number of longitudinal layer can
be restrained compared with the first model.

𝜎𝑡𝑜𝑡 𝑖 < 𝜎𝑡𝑜𝑡 𝑘 (2)

MOR
where 1 ≤ i ≤ n − 1, 2 ≤ k ≤ n
MOR’ n: number of longitudinal layer

σtot2 σtot3 MORｎ

N (MOR’, Sd)

σtot1 ・・・
Efr
Figure 5: Generation of lamina MOR from Efr

During whole process strain on the tension side in each

longitudinal layer is considered always equal. Therefore,
the lamina which has minimum 𝜀𝑚𝑎𝑥 collapses first. Two
calculation methods were employed in this research;
weakest link method and load redistribution method.
ε1 ε2 ε3 εｎ
3.2. WEAKEST LINK METHOD (WLM)
Weakest link method (WLM) assumes that CLT collapses
simultaneously with the weakest lamina fracture. MOR of
CLT (MORCLT) is calculated as average stress occurs in i=1, k=2
each lamina at the moment of the weakest lamina failure.
The overview of the model is shown in Figure 6.

σb1＝Efr  εmax2 i ←i Not satisfied Satisfied i ←k

MORCLT= (MOR2+σb1)/2 k ←k+1 k ←k+1
MOR2 If (k = n) If (k = n)

MORCLT = σ tot i / n MORCLT = σ tot k / n

MORCLT

MOR1 MORCLT = σtot i / n

σb1 MORCLT = σtot k / n
Efr2 10

Efr1 n9
εmax2 εmax1 8
n -1 ・・・
・・・
・・・

Figure 6: General instruction of the model 7

6
3.3. LOAD REDISTRIBUTION MODEL
k

5
(LRM)
4
Load redistribution model (LRM) is based on the idea
that load redistribution occurs among existing lamina 3

when the weakest lamina failed. Figure 7 illustrates 2

When strain reaches maximum strain of the weakest 1 :Redistribution applied
lamina (ɛ1), sum of tensile stress at ɛ1 (σtot1) is calculated :Redistribution not applied
0
from lamina Efr and ɛ1. Similarly, σtot2 is obtained at 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ・・・9 n-2 n-1 12
10 11
maximum strain of the second weakest lamina (ɛ2). If i
σtot1 < σtot2 is satisfied, it means that load redistribution
succeeds because in this case there must be a strain value Figure 7: Basic idea of load redistribution
where σtot1 = σtot2 is satisfied between ɛ1 and ɛ2, otherwise
redistribution process fails in this number of longitudinal
layer and investigation of equation 2 where i =1 and k=3.
3.4. REINFORCEMENT EFFECT (RE) BY 2,240

TRANSVERSAL LAYERS 2040

Flaig (2014) finds that transversal layers of CLT beams 1020
have some effect to increase bending strength of
longitudinal lamina by performing lamina edgewise
bending test with a part of transversal lamina using 100
Norway spruce (Picea abies) [4]. The result indicates that
the reinforcement effect becomes larger as knot area ratio

440
(KAR) of the sections where failure occurs increases.
Since KAR of lamina is not investigated in this research,
100
the mean value in the experiments by Flaig (2014), 0.25
was employed. In this research, the ratio of reinforced

150
lamina against single lamina was considered as 1.35.

4. EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION series5-2

4.1. CLT BEAM BENDING TEST (LAMINA
Efr PREMEASURED)
4.1.1. Materials and methods
The specimens employed in the test described in 2.1 was
composed of lamina with finger joint (FJ) and position of
knots were not taken into consideration. Therefore, the
result could be caused by such defects. To verify the
existence of lamination effect, three and five layered CLT
beams composed of lamina without FJ were prepared.
Series3-1 has one longitudinal layer of three layers in total
and series5-2 has two of five, each comprising ten
specimens. Size of the specimens and the cross section are
illustrated in Figure 8. When the specimens were
manufactured, lamina arranged at the edge of tension side <<

were chosen so that there is no knot near the centre of the

specimens. Their Efr were measured before the test to Efr measured lamina
acquire the distribution function for the model. Three
point bending test loaded in plane was performed and Figure 8: Size of the specimens and cross section
bending strength of CLT beams related net cross section
was calculated from the maximum load.
4.1.2. Results and discussion
2240 All specimens were collapsed by bending stress. The
2040 result is shown in Table 1 and bending strength of each
1020 specimen is shown in Figure 9, indicating that the mean
value of series 5-2 is lower than that of series 3-1. It means
that the difference of bending strength caused by
100 lamination effect. On the other hand, there is no
significant difference in the 5th percentile (P5) since
coefficient of variance (CV) of series 5-2 is lower than
510

that of series3-1.
100
Table 1: Test result of CLT beams without FJ
90

MEAN P5
series CV
(MPa) (MPa)
series3-1 3-1 51.5 8.9% 41.9
5-2 47.8 6.7% 41.0
 Bending Strength (MPa) 70.0

60.0

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

10.0

0.0
series 3-1 series 5-2

Figure 9: Bending strength of each specimen Figure 11: Test setup of lamina bending test

Figure 10 shows the distribution of density and Efr of
lamina arranged at the edge of the tension side. These
distribution function will be employed in the model
calculation later.
4.2.2. Results and discussion
All specimens failed by bending stress. Figure 12 gives
some photographs of specimens after the test and ratio of
fracture origin. The distribution of Efr and MOR of lamina
are shown in Figure 13, indicating Efr are higher than
those of lamina in section 4.1. MOR was calculated only
for specimens whose failure occurred between two
loading points.

① Base material ② Knot (on the edge)

unclear
Figure 10: Distribution of density and Efr of lamina 12%

4.2. LAMINA EDGEWISE BENDING TEST ③ ①

13% 34%

4.2.1. Materials and methods

320 laminae for CLT with a thickness of 30 mm, a width ②
41%
of 124 mm and a length of 2000 mm (without FJ) were
prepared. Four-point edgewise bending test illustrated in ③ Knot (not on the edge)
Figure 11 was carried out to acquire the regression
equation between Efr and MOR of lamina. Efr of all Figure 12: Ratio of fracture origin
specimens were measured before the bending test.
F F
30
124
620

1860
 80
70
60

MOR (MPa)
50
40
30
20
10 y = 2.9845x + 21.339
0 R² = 0.0641
4 6 8 10 12
Efr (GPa)

80 y = 2.8698x + 30.396
70 R² = 0.1997
60

MOR (MPa)
50
40
30
20
10 y = 2.0584x + 22.253
0 R² = 0.0323
4 6 8 10 12
Efr (GPa)

Base material knots

Figure 14: Liner regression between Efr and MOR
above: against whole specimen, below: divided by fracture
origin

Regression equation between Efr and MOR and residual

Figure 13: Distribution of Efr and MOR of lamina
standard deviation (RSD) in each fracture origin were
The relationship between Efr and MOR is given in the described below.
graph at the top of Figure 14. Generally, timber has a
strong correlation between modulus of elasticity and MOR = a · 𝐸𝑓𝑟 + 𝑏 (3)
bending strength, but the result of indicates a weak (MOR in MPa, Efr in GPa )
correlation. To study this tendency, the specimens are
divided into two groups based on fracture origin: base Table 2: Regression analysis on each fracture origin
material and knot. Former is composed of specimens a b RSD
categorised in i) in pie chart in Figure 12 and latter is ii) Whole 2.9845 21.339 10.687
and iii). Regression line of each group was individually Base material 2.8698 30.396 6.219
drawn as shown in the graph at the bottom of Figure 14,
indicating that correlation is stronger in base material Knots 2.0584 22.253 9.306
group than in knot group. It is found that the correlation
as a whole was weakened by existence of knots. This 5. CALCULATION BY THE MODEL
tendency would be more remarkable in edgewise bending 5.1. OVERVIEW
in that ratio of knot to thickness tends to be larger than In-plane bending strength of CLT beams were calculated
that in flatwise bending. by the model described in section 3 to compare the value
with experimental value obtained in section 4.1. Four
calculation methods were tested: WLM with and without
RE, LRM with and without RE. Distribution and
regression functions obtained from the tests previously
described were employed as follows:
① The distribution of lamina Efr in section 4.1 was
applied to generate each of them assuming normal
distribution.
② Lamina Efr was generated within the range from Figure 16 shows the frequency of load redistribution,
minimum to maximum of Efr of the laminae used in indicating that it rarely occurs more than once.
section 4.1.
without RE
③ To generate MOR from Efr, the whole regression
function in section 4.2. was used (the top row of the 100%
Table 2) 80%
60% 3
5.2. SIMULATION RESULTS 40% 2
Summary of calculation results are given and compared
20% 1
with test result in Table 3. Without RE, both simulated
mean and P5 value are lower than experimental value. In 0% 0
contrast, calculated MOR with RE is higher than test 1 2 3 4 5 6
results. n
Table 3: Comparison of MOR between experimental value
and calculated value with RE
Calculated
MEAN, P5 in MPa Experimental without RE with RE
100%
WLM LRM WLM LRM 80%
MEAN 51.5 41.9 42.1 57.8 58.0 60% 3
series3-1 CV 8.9% 25.9% 25.4% 26.2% 26.4%
P5 41.9 24.0 24.4 32.8 32.7
40% 2
MEAN 47.8 35.9 36.3 49.3 49.9 20% 1
series5-2 CV 6.7% 24.5% 23.0% 24.8% 23.0% 0% 0
P5 41.0 21.4 22.5 29.1 31.0 1 2 3 4 5 6
n
As shown in Figure 5, simulated mean MOR decreasing
with increasing number of longitudinal layer (n) Figure 16: Frequency of load redistribution
regardless of WLM or LRM. LRM influences on P5
especially if n is large. 5.3. SIMULATION IN WHICH KNOT
EFFECT REMOVED
without RE So far regression equation between Efr and MOR of
70.0 lamina based on all lamina as shown in the top row of
60.0 Table 2. In this section, lamina whose fracture origin were
50.0 its base material were only used to generate lamina for
simulation. It is appropriate to take this method to
40.0 reproduce the experiment results since as mentioned
MORCLT

30.0 earlier, the lamina employed in section 4.1 did not have a
20.0 knot near the centre of the specimens. Moreover, it was
confirmed that no specimen was failed from knots by
10.0
checking photograph after the test. When lamina MOR is
0.0 generated from Efr, the figures at the middle row of Table
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 were used. The simulation value is compared with test
n value in Table 4. Calculated value is in good agreement
with experimental value especially in mean value. As
WLM_MEAN WLM_P5 LRM_MEAN
with RE shown in Figure 17, the frequency of load redistribution
LRM_P5 Test_MEAN TEST_P5
70.0 has become much smaller than in the previous section,
resulting in little difference of MORCLT between WLM
60.0
and LDM.
50.0
40.0 Table 4: the result of simulation in which knot effect removed
MORCLT

30.0 Calculated
MEAN, P5 in MPa Experimental without RE
20.0
WLM LRM
10.0
MEAN 51.5 50.1 50.2
0.0 series3-1 CV 8.9% 12.8% 13.1%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
P5 41.9 39.5 39.3
n
MEAN 47.8 46.6 46.5
WLM_MEAN WLM_P5 LRM_MEAN series5-2 CV 6.7% 11.2% 11.5%
LRM_P5 TEST_MEAN TEST_P5 P5 41.0 37.9 37.7
Figure 15: Relation between MORCLT and number of
longitudinal layer
 60 with CLT construction, the 65th Annual Meeting of
the Japan Wood Research Society, 2016
50
[4] M. Flaig, H.J. Blaβ: Bending strength of cross
40 laminated timber beams loaded in plane,
MORCLT (MPa)

Proceedings of World Conference on Timber

30
Engineering 2014
20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
n

LDM_MEAN LDM_P5
WLM_MEAN WLM_P5
TEST_MEAN TEST_P5

100%

80%

60%
2
40% 1
20% 0

0%
1 2 3 4 5 6
n
Figure 17: Simulated mean and P5 value (above) and
frequency of load redistribution (below)

6. CONCLUSION
The existence of lamination effect was empirically and
computationally verified. The mean value obtained from
simulation decreases as the number of longitudinal layer
increase in all calculation method employed in this paper.
On the other hand, 5th percentile decreased in calculations
without load redistribution and slightly increased with
load redistribution. It is suggested that transversal layers
have some reinforcement effect, but further investigation
is necessary to evaluate the effect in Japanese cedar.
To make this model more versatile and accurate, further
investigation such as properties and reinforcement effect
of longitudinal layers is necessary.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The tests described in this research were carried out as
part of a project subsidised by Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan.

REFERENCES
[1] A. Kitamori, S. Nakashima and H. Isoda :
Development of CLT shearframe using
metalpalteinsert connections, Proceedings of World
Conference on Timber Engineering, 2014
[2] M. Wada, A. Kitamori, T. Mori and H. Isoda: A
study on strength properties of L and T shape panel
with CLT construction. In: International Symposium
on Wood Science and Technology, 2015
[3] M. Wada, A.Kitamori, T. Mori and H. Isoda: A
study on strength properties of L and T shape panel