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.
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) construction is a relatively new process. There is therefore very little specific technical documentation for the erection of structures designed and built with CLT panels. Current CLT manufacturers provide recommendations on lifting systems for the installation of prefabricated wood assemblies. However, technical documents currently available mostly come from Europe or Canada and may appear incomplete to some design professionals and builders/contractors in the United States. This Chapter presents a variety of lifting systems that can be used in the construction of structures using CLT panels. We discuss the basic theory required or suggested for proper lifting techniques. In addition, we introduce various tools and accessories that are frequently required for CLT construction, as well as good building practices to help contractors build safe and efficient CLT panel structures. Finally, we discuss issues related to the transportation of CLT assemblies from factory to building site. Regulatory aspects of transportation are also discussed. It is importat to note that the lifting, handling, and installation of CLT panels involve multiple interest groups including design professionals, contractors/erectors and CLT manufacturers, each with different areas of interest and expertise. Therefore, the information presented in this Chapter is broad in scope and may or may not be relevant to each interest group.
Wood-concrete composite slab floors provide a promising solution for achieving long spans and shallow wood-based floor systems for large and tall wood buildings. In comparison with conventional wood floor systems, such long span and heavy floors have a lower fundamental natural frequency...
This document is a translation of the “Bâtiments de construction massive en bois
d’au plus 12 étages” Guide published in August 2015. In the event of discrepancies,
the French version prevails.
Several analytical and empirical methods have been developed and adopted in Europe for the determination of shear and bending properties of Cross-laminated Timber (CLT) elements loaded out-of-plane and in-plane. however, proposed evaluation methods for d...
