A reduction of the shear resistance was introduced with the crack factor kcr in Eurocode 5. The factor 0.67 corresponds to cracks that have a depth of 1/3 of the beam width. The aim of this project was to learn more about different types of cracks and their importance for the shear strength of glulam beams. The project started with tests of five types of glulam beams, with or without cracks. The cracks had different depths and locations, three beam types had cracks made by sawing and one type had cracks from moisturing and drying. The beam dimensions were 115 mm x 315 mm x 2600 mm. Five beams of each type with cracks were tested and ten beams without cracks. The beams were Swedish standard beams made of Spruce and taken from the normal production. Three-point bending method was used for the shear tests. The beams of type 1 without cracks got mostly bending failures; the characteristic shear strength was at least 3.5 MPa. Beams with sawn grooves got lower characteristic shear values and this means a reduced cross section should be used for beams with cut grooves along the beams. Beams with drying cracks got more shear failures, but the characteristic shear strength of the beams was about the same as for beams without cracks.
