4 Eng Wood Products 2021

Corso: «Timber Engineering»
ENGINEERED WOOD
PRODUCTS
Massimo FRAGIACOMO*
*Professor of Structural Engineering, University of
L’Aquila, Italy, Email: massimo.fragiacomo@univaq.it
Engineered wood products
OBJECTIVE:
• to introduce the engineered wood products

and, in particular, glue-laminated and cross-
laminated timber by highlighting:
 the advantages with respect to solid
timber structures;
 the manufacturing process;
• to show some examples of real structures
made from glulam.
SUMMARY:
• Why use engineered wood products?

• What is glulam?
• Why laminate timber?
• Why has glulam got better mechanical
properties than timber?
• How is glulam manufactured?
• Strength classes
SUMMARY:
• Cross-laminated timber
• LVL (laminated veneer lumber)
• Plywood
• MDF, OSB, particleboards
• Examples of glulam structures.

DISADVANTAGES OF SAWN
TIMBER:
• Larger size of structural member limited by the
size of the tree
• Only straight members can be produced
• Significant strength reduction compared to
clear specimens due to the influence of defects
• Reduced reliability (scatter of results) due to
the defects
• Anisotropic behaviour, very good parallel to the
grain but very bad perpendicular to grain
DISADVANTAGES OF SAWN
TIMBER:
How to improve the timber behaviour and to
reduce the aforementioned disadvantages?
By producing the ENGINEERED WOOD

PRODUCTS

BEAM-TYPE ENGINEERED
TIMBER PROD. I - beams
OSB - web
LVL – flange
Glued
solid
wood
Parallel
strand
Lumber (PSL) Glued
laminated
timber
(glulam)
laminated
veneer
lumber Cross-
(LVL) sawn lumber
PLATE-TYPE ENGINEERED
TIMBER PRODUCTS
MDF Plywood
Particleboard
OSB
Cross-lam
Stressed skin
Cross-banded LVL panels
WHAT IS GLULAM?
Glue-laminated timber (glulam) is a

solid wood member manufactured by
gluing smaller pieces (planks) together.
WHAT IS GLULAM?
The idea is to:

• cut some planks (40-50
mm thick, 1500 to 5000
mm long) from a tree;
• join them lengthwise
(finger joints);
• glue the laminations
together. Engineered wood products
WHY LAMINATE TIMBER?
• to produce larger dimensions and spans

than what is possible in sawn timber (depth
up to 2000 mm, length up to 40 m and more);
• for the freedom in the choice of geometrical

shape (straight, curved) and aesthetic
appearance;
4.0 m
2.7m


appearance;

appearance;

appearance;

appearance;

• for the improved strength and stiffness

properties with respect to sawn timber;
(NZ classes) Bending Compression Tension Modulus of
parallel parallel elasticity
fm [MPa] fc [MPa] ft [MPa] E [GPa]

Sawn timber - dry (No. 1 17.7 20.9 8.8 8.0
framing)
Glulam – GL 8 19 24 10 8.0
Glulam – GL 10 22 26 11 10.0
WHY HAS GLULAM GOT

BETTER MECHANICAL PROP.?
 because of the controlled manufacturing
process (drying, grading and stiffness testing);
 because by cutting the tree in small planks
and by gluing them together, the defects such
as knots are smaller and spread throughout
the beam volume. Therefore each defect is
less critical compared to the case of sawn
timber.
WHY HAS GLULAM GOT
In other words, the
manufacturing
process leads to a
more homogeneous
material (with more
smaller defects
instead of few larger defect) with a higher
mean and, mostly, higher characteristic
strength compared to sawn timber.
WHY HAS GLULAM GOT

Reducing material variation (heterogeneity) is equivalent
to reduce uncertainty, which will result in increased
strength.
Frequency F(f)
LVL Remark: the

characteristic
strength fk increases
Glulam much more than the
mean strength fm!!!
Graded timber
Strength
fk fk fk fm
fm fm Engineered wood products
• for the possibility to match the lamination

quality to the level of stress (combined
glulam); Most stressed compressed
zone (best quality lamin.)
Less stressed zone near the
neutral axis (worst quality
M
laminations)
Most stressed tensile zone
Strain (best quality laminations)
diagram Engineered wood products
• for the stability of shape during exposure

to moisture, since the planks are kiln dried to
12% of m.c. (less shrinkage);
• for the dimensional accuracy, thanks to the
controlled production process (small
tolerances, very important for the use of
prefabricated members of different
materials).
GLUE LAMINATED TIMBER
Arrangement of laminations in glulam beams used in

outdoor conditions:
GLUE LAMINATED TIMBER

HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
Manufacture of glue-laminated timber

HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
Logs are cut into 40 to 50 mm thick planks

with lengths ranging from 1500 to 5000 mm.
HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
The planks are kiln

dried because the
adhesives used require
the m.c. of wood be
15% maximum.
The planks are then pre-planed and

strength graded.
HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
23 PL3 12
MOE   
1296  BD 3
Machine grading (MOE can be evaluated
once the deflection  under the load P is
measured). Engineered wood products
HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
The end of the planks

are cut off and profiled
for finger joints. Then
the adhesive is applied
and the planks are
pressed together for at
least two seconds.
HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?

HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
Proof testing of finger joints
HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
The continuous section is cut into
laminations of the required length and
stored for at least 8 hours to ensure the
curing of the glue.
Then the glue is applied on the faces and the
laminations are pressed together (glueline
pressure from 0.4 to 1.2 N/mm2) giving the
final cross-section lying on its side.
HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
Jigs and pressing devices for straight members

HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
Jigs and pressing devices for curved members
HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
The gluelines are kept under

pressure in controlled climate at
20°C and 65% relative humidity for
at least 6 hours before the clamps
are released and the beams are
stacked ready for finishing.

HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
The beams are planed on each side.
HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
At the end the

beams are
finished
(drilling of
holes for conn,
application of
coatings, etc.).

HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
HOW IS GLULAM
MANUFACTURED?
Important:
since the finger
joints are weak
points, they
must not be
aligned on the
cross-section.

STRENGTH CLASSES (EN 14080)






CROSS-LAMINATED PANELS:
They are the

extension to the
2D of the glue
laminated
concept.
They are prefabricated solids slabs obtained

by laminating together planks of timber.
Unlike glulam, adjacent layers are arranged
at a right angle. Glue or nails can be used.
Depth = 142 mm Breadth = 2.30 m

PRODUCTION
Spruce boards of thicknesses
varying from 17 to 27 mm and
width from 160 to 200 are
machine dried up to 10-12 % of
m.c. and planed…
PRODUCTION
… machine graded, checked for
defects and finger jointed in
length…

PRODUCTION
… then assembled in layers…
PRODUCTION
…and cross glued with melamine-

urea-formaldehyde glue (from a
minimum of 3 layers up to a
maximum of 11 layers) and…

PRODUCTION
…finally vacuum or hydraulically

pressed and assembled in big size
panels (up to 4.8x20 m with
thicknesses between 50 and 300
mm)……..
pv
TRANSPORT AND ASSEMBLING
storage of CLT elements charging and transport discharging (building

(production site) site)
mounting parts for roof mounting parts for mounting parts for wall
elements ceiling elements elements
Advantages:
• More in-plane isotropic strength
and stiffness compared to glulam -
therefore can be used for slabs and
walls (red: strong direction, blue:
weak direction)
Advantages:
• Greater in-plane stability with
similar shrinkage/swelling in the
strong (red) directions

Advantages:
• Possibility of using low-grade timber
thanks to the system (lamination) effect.
Advantages:
• Reduced splitting tendency in connection
regions (nails, screws, bolts) thanks to the
reinforcing effect of the perp. planks


Disadvantages:
• Larger volume of timber needed (may be
expensive if the unit cost of timber is high)
– however low quality wood can be used.
• Reduced strength in the main direction
as only the boards loaded parallel to the
grain carry the load


LVL AND PLYWOOD:
• LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber)

• Plywood

LVL AND PLYWOOD:
• LVL and plywood are conceptually

similar to glulam and cross-lam
• The main difference is that they are made
of 3 mm thick veneer instead of 20-30
mm thick boards
WHAT IS LVL?
• LVL is Laminated Veneer Lumber
• LVL is obtained by gluing together under
pressures veneers of wood 2 to 4 mm thick
produced by the rotary peeling of steamed logs.

HOW IS IT PRODUCED?
rotary peel lathe ultrasound
grader glue
veneer spreader
drier
cross-cut press
saw
lay-up station
rip saw
WHY IS IT PRODUCED?
The better properties are achieved because
the defects such as knots are smaller and
spread throughout the beam volume.
Therefore each
defect is less critical
compared to the
case of sawn timber.
LVL behaves almost
as clear wood.
WHY IS LVL MANUFACTURED?
Reducing material variation (heterogeneity) is equivalent
to reduce uncertainty, which will result in increased
strength. LVL Remark: the
characteristic
Frequency F(f)
strength fk increases
Glulam much more than the
mean strength fm!!!
Graded timber
Strength
fk fk fk fm
fm fm
COMPARISON AMONG
STRENGTHS:
Sawn timber Glulam LVL Concrete

No.1 framing GL8 (Hyspan) Grade 25
Compression
15 24 34 25
strength [MPa]
Bending strength
10 19 42 3
[MPa]
Modulus of
6 8 13.2 28.8
Elasticity [GPa]

VENEER GRADING IS KEY
TO LVL RELIABILITY
LVL:
LVL is used for 1D elements such as
joists, purlins, rafters, beams, columns.
LVL has high
strength and stiffness
in the direction of the R
length (L), very low
strength and stiffness
in the other two L
directions (R, T). T
LVL – MECHANICAL PROP.:

PLYWOOD:
Plywood is manufactured R
like LVL, but with the R
T L
T
adjacent veneers laid at a L
R
right angle. L
T
R
Designwood
Engineered of plywood
products
PLYWOOD MANUFACTURE:
Stiffness and visual grades
composer
A, B, C, D
F grades, glue
layup design curtain
multi-
daylight
press
layup
trim saw
Filling, sanding, wrapping,
dispatch
PLYWOOD:
Unlike LVL, Plywood experiences

strength and stiffness comparable in any
in-plane direction.
It is produced in R
panels which are L
T
mainly used for
2D members such
as floor deckings
and shear walls. Engineered wood products
PLYWOOD:
PARTICLEBOARD:
Are obtained from wood particles mixed

with glue, then heated and compressed.
Advantages: Isotropy, dimensional stability,
less scatter of mechanical properties.
Disadvantages: less strength (fb=17 MPa),
less stiffness (E=4 GPa), greater creep.

PARTICLEBOARD:
Particleboard Plywood
ORIENTED STRAND
BOARD (OSB)

EXAMPLE OF LVL STRUCTURES

Rural buildings - pole and beam
Small-span portal buildings

Large-span portal buildings
Roof, ceiling and floor panels

I-Joists
LVL Flange
Plywood
Web
Resorcinol
Resorcinol web to web
flange to web joint
joint
Continuous span floor joists

Rafters - industrial warehouse
Exposed rafters

Simple web holes …...
…..but don’t touch the flange

Special joist-hangers to suit hyJOIST

EXAMPLES: GLULAM ARCHES
EXAMPLES: BIFOCATED
RIDGE JOINT

EXAMPLES: BIFOCATED
RIDGE JOINT
EXAMPLES: BIFOCATED
RIDGE JOINT

EXAMPLES: BIFOCATED
RIDGE JOINT
EXAMPLES: BIFOCATED
RIDGE JOINT

EXAMPLES: BIFOCATED
RIDGE JOINT
EXAMPLES: BIFOCATED
RIDGE JOINT

EXAMPLES: BIFOCATED
RIDGE JOINT
EXAMPLES: FALE PASIFIKA

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

EXAMPLES: DOME
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EXAMPLES: DOME

EXAMPLES: DOME
EXAMPLES: DOME

EXAMPLES: DOME
REFERENCES
• Timber Engineering, Step 1, Lecture A8.

• Eurocode 5, Part 1-1.

4 Eng Wood Products 2021

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Corso: «Timber Engineering»

Engineered wood products

• to introduce the engineered wood products

• Why use engineered wood products?

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products

By producing the ENGINEERED WOOD

Engineered wood products

Glue-laminated timber (glulam) is a

Engineered wood products

The idea is to:

• to produce larger dimensions and spans

Engineered wood products

WHY LAMINATE TIMBER?

• for the freedom in the choice of geometrical

Engineered wood products

• for the freedom in the choice of geometrical

Engineered wood products

WHY LAMINATE TIMBER?

• for the freedom in the choice of geometrical

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products

WHY LAMINATE TIMBER?

• for the freedom in the choice of geometrical

Engineered wood products

• for the improved strength and stiffness

fm [MPa] fc [MPa] ft [MPa] E [GPa]

Engineered wood products

WHY HAS GLULAM GOT

WHY HAS GLULAM GOT

LVL Remark: the

• for the possibility to match the lamination

WHY LAMINATE TIMBER?

• for the stability of shape during exposure

Arrangement of laminations in glulam beams used in

Engineered wood products

GLUE LAMINATED TIMBER

Engineered wood products

Manufacture of glue-laminated timber

Logs are cut into 40 to 50 mm thick planks

The planks are kiln

The planks are then pre-planed and

The end of the planks

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products

The gluelines are kept under

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products

At the end the

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products

STRENGTH CLASSES (EN 14080)

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products

STRENGTH CLASSES (EN 14080)

Engineered wood products

Engineered wood products