Cross-Laminated timber (CLT) has emerged as a leading engineered wood product (EWP) in modern construction, offering advantages such as high strength-to-weight ratios [1], design flexibility [1,2,3], and sustainability [4]. As demand for timber-based systems continues to grow, a deeper perception of the factors influencing CLT performance becomes increasingly crucial.
CLT is composed of multiple layers of timber lamellae arranged orthogonally, with each consecutive layer bonded using structural adhesives. However, within individual layers, lamellae are often only placed side-by-side without any additional bonding to their neighbors [1, 5, 6]. This lack of intra-layer bonding may introduce discontinuities, potentially affecting load-sharing capacity and overall system efficiency. Experimental studies have shown that edge-gluing lamellae can increase rolling shear stiffness by approximately 35% and enhance shear strength. These results suggest that intra-layer bonding may improve mechanical performance under certain conditions [7]. However, it is worth noting that Gardner et al. [7] examined adhesive effects in short-span, shear-dominated panels. The impact of long-span, flexure-dominated CLT panels remains uninvestigated and further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of such bonding strategies.
Given the inherent variability in timber related to knots, skew fibers, other defects and clear wood properties, as well as uncertainties in lamella-to-lamella interactions, both suitable material, mechanical and numerical models, and probabilistic methods become essential in analyzing the behavior of CLT structures. Monte Carlo simulation applied in combination with a finite element model is well-suited for this purpose, as this enables the incorporation of natural variability, accounts for model uncertainties, and allows for probabilistic failure assessments that deterministic models cannot capture [8].
Keywords: Cross laminated timber, Monte Carlo simulation, Intra-layer bonding, Finite Element Method
Authors
Hamed Hajikarimian
Dept. of Building Technology, Linnaeus University, Sweden
Anders Olsson
Dept. of Building Technology, Linnaeus University, Sweden
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