Cross-laminated timber (CLT), a new generation of engineered wood product developed initially in Europe, has been gaining increased popularity in residential and non-residential applications in several countries. Many impressive low- and mid-rise buildings built around the world using CLT showcase the many advantages this product has to offer to the construction sector. In this Chapter, we put forward an introduction to CLT as a product and CLT construction in general, along with different examples of buildings and other structures made with CLT panels. CLT is now available in North America and several projects already built in Canada and the United States, using CLT, are presented in this Chapter. An assessment of market opportunity for CLT based on the latest construction statistics for the United States is also presented.
This Chapter provides general information about the manufacturing of CLT that may be of interest to the design community. The information contained in this Chapter may also provide guidance to CLT manufacturers in the development of their plant operating specification document. Typical steps of the CLT manufacturing process are described, and key process variables affecting adhesive bond quality of CLT products are discussed. The manufacturing, qualification, and quality assurance requirements in accordance with the American National Standard for Performance-Rated Cross-Laminated Timber, ANSI/APA PRG 320, are discussed.
Building using cross-laminated timber (CLT) began in Europe about two decades ago and has used a variety of methods for structural analysis. Experimental testing methods were the most accurate, yet they lacked versatility because changes in lay-up, material, or even manufacturing methods could cause a need for new testing. Consequently, three analytical approaches have been created and are commonly used in Europe as none have been universally accepted to date. ... In the United States and Canada, the product standard (Standard for Performance-Rated Cross-Laminated Timber - ANSI/APA PRG 320) has adopted the Shear Analogy method to derive composite bending and shear stiffness properties.
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is an innovative wood product that was developed approximately two decades ago in Europe and has since been gaining in popularity. Based on the experience of European researchers and designers, it is believed that CLT can provide the U.S. market the opportunity to build mid- and high-rise wood buildings. This Chapter presents a summary of past research and state-of-the-art understanding of the seismic behavior of CLT. As a new structural system to the United States, the design of CLT for seismic applications is expected to be made through alternative method provisions of the building codes. Efforts to develop seismic design coefficients for use in the equivalent lateral force procedures in the United States are underway. Nonlinear numerical modeling of CLT is presented and used to provide and indication of the effect of designing with different R-factors. Using nominal CLT wall capacity values derived from isolated wall tests, the illustrative example showed that an R-factor of approximately 2 can result in a low probability of collapse (less than 10 percent) at MCE intensity.
This Chapter focuses on a few fastening systems that reflect present-day practices, some being conventional, while others are proprietary. Given the recent introduction of CLT into the construction market, it is expected that new connection types will be developed over time. Issues associated with connection design specific to CLT assemblies are presented. The European design approach is also presented and the applicability of the National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood Construction design provisions for traditional fasteners in CLT such as bolts, dowels, nails, and wood screws are reviewed and design guidelines are provided. Several design examples are also given at the end to demonstrate how connections in CLT can be established using current NDS design provisions.
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) products are used as load-carrying slab and wall elements in structural systems, thus load duration and creep behavior are critical characteristics that must be addressed in structural design. Given its lay-up construction with orthogonal arrangement of layers bonded with structural adhesive, CLT is more prone to time-dependent deformations under load (creep) than other engineered wood products such as structural glued-laminated timber. Time dependent behavior of structural wood products is addressed in design standards by load duration factors that adjust design properties. Since CLT has been recently introduced into the North American market, the current design standards and building codes do not specify load duration and creep adjustment factors for CLT. Until this can be rectified, an approach is proposed in this Chapter for adopter of CLT systems in the United States. This includes not only load duration and service factors, but also an approach to accounting for creep in CLT structural elements.
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is proving to be a promising solution for wood to compete in building sectors where steel and concrete have traditionally predominated. Studies at FPInnovations found that bare CLT floor systems differ from traditional lightweight wood joisted floors with typical mass around 4 lb./ft2 (20 kg/m2) and fundamental natural frequency above 15 Hz, and heavy concrete slab floors with a mass above 40 lb./ft2 (200 kg/m2) and fundamental natural frequency below 8 Hz. Based on FPInnovations' test results, bare CLT floors were found to have mass varying from approximately 6 lb./ft2 (30 kg/m2) to 30 lb./ft2 (150 kg/m2), and a fundamental natural frequency above 9 Hz. Due to these special properties, the existing standard vibration controlled design methods for lightweight and heavy floors may not be applicable for CLT floors. ...
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a promising wood-based structural component and has potential to provide cost-effective building solution for residential, commercial and institutional buildings as well as large industrial facilities. Market acceptance of CLT requires that it meets the applicable building code requirements. CLT elements are used in building systems in similar manner to concrete slabs and solid wall elements, as well as to those from heavy timber construction, by avoiding concealed spaces due to the use of massive timber elements, thus reducing the risk of fire spread beyond its point of origin. Moreover, CLT construction typically uses CLT panels for floor and loadbearing walls, will allow fire-rated compartmentalization, again reducing the risk of fire spread beyond it spoint of origin. ...
