Design of CLT Structures

CIVE480 Timber Structures

2019
9.1 Introduction of CLT (cross-
laminated timber)

2
1) History
▪ CLT was first developed in Europe
▪ In the mid 1990s, industry-academia joint research (Austria)
→ modern CLT
▪ In early 2000s, construction in CLT increased significantly
(driven by green building movement…)

3
2) In Canada
▪ In 2005, FPInnovations launched a CLT research program,
→ Prepared CLT Handbook (2011)
▪ NSERC Network — NEWBuildS (CLT is one of its four
themes) (2010-2015)

→ CLT was introduced into the CSA O86-14 “Engineering

design in wood” 2014 edition update 1 (May 2016)

4
3) Definition
▪ CLT panels consist of several layers of boards stacked
crosswise (typically at 90 degrees) and glued together on their
wide faces and, sometimes, on the narrow faces as well.

5
4) Cross section
▪ Typically consist of 3 to 9 alternating layers
▪ Same grade and species of sawn lumber in one lamination
▪ Consecutive layers may be placed in the same direction

Consecutive
layers

6
5) Individual board
▪ Size: 16-51 mm thick, 60-240 mm wide
▪ Finger joint using structural adhesive, kiln dried

Finger joint

7
6) CLT panel
▪ Size: width (1.2 m to 3 m), length (5 m to 19.5 m), thickness
(100 mm to 300 mm)
▪ Limited by the size of manufacturer’s press and transportation
regulations

8
7) Stress grades
▪ Five primary CLT stress grades (E1, E2, E3, V1, and V2)
“E” ― machine stress rated (MSR, or E-rated)
“V” ― visually graded lumber
▪ Lumber strength in longitudinal direction strength >
transverse direction (Table 8.2.3 of CSA O86)

Longitudinal layers Transverse layers

E1, E2, E3 MSR Visually graded
V1, V2 Visually graded Visually graded

9
8) Advantages (walls and floors/roofs)
Outer layers
oriented
▪ Improved dimensional stability vertically
(wide and long walls and floors)
▪ Increase splitting resistance of some
CLT connections

CLT
Wall

10
9) Benefits of cross laminating

▪ Two-way action capability of floors

CLT panel vs Glued-laminated timber

11
10) Other advantages
▪ Easy handling in construction
▪ High level of prefabrication
▪ Good thermal insulation
▪ Good sound insulation
▪ A fairly good performance under fire conditions

12
11) Manufacturing process
▪ Lumber selection (quality
consistency)
▪ Lumber grouping and planning
▪ Adhesive application (adhesive bond
quality control)
▪ Panel lay-up and pressing
▪ Product cutting
▪ Marking and packaging

The manufacturing
process of CLT
products [1] 13
9.2 Structural design and
serviceability considerations of CLT

14
1) Floor/roof elements
▪ In-plane and out-of-plane bending and shear strength and stiffness
▪ Short-term and long-term behavior:
• Instantaneous deflection
• Long-term strength for permanent loading
• Long-term deflection (creep deformation)
▪ Compression perpendicular to grain strength (bearing)
▪ Fire performance, durability, vibration performance, acoustic
performance

15
2) Wall elements
▪ In-plane and out-of-plane bending and shear strength and stiffness
▪ Short-term and long-term behavior:
• Instantaneous deflection
• Long-term strength for permanent loading
• Long-term deflection (creep deformation)
▪ Loading-bearing capacity (critical)
▪ Fire performance, durability, vibration performance, acoustic
performance

16
3) CLT in Construction

Single-family house in Klagenfurt, Austria

(courtesy of KLH) [1]

Multi-family building in London, United

Kingdom (courtesy of KLH and Waugh-
Thistleton) [1]
17
3) CLT in Construction

Impulsezentrum, Graz, Austria

(courtesy of KLH) [1]
Brock Common Building at UBC
18
9.3 Design of CLT panels as flexural
members

19
1) Design
▪ Factored moment resistance Mr ≥ maximum factored moment Mf
▪ Factored shear resistance Vr ≥ maximum factored shear force Vf
(loads within a distance from the support equal to the depth of the member
may be neglected ?)
▪ Factored bearing resistance Qr ≥ maximum factored reaction Qf
▪ Maximum deflection under specified loads < deflection criteria
▪ Actual span does not exceed the span determined by vibration criteria

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2) Design Factors
▪ Load duration factor, KD
▪ Service condition factors, KS
▪ System factor, KH
▪ Treatment factor, KT

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3) Load duration factor, KD
▪ The specified strengths and capacities in CSA O86 are based on
the standard-term duration of the specified loads

Load duration KD Explanatory notes

Short term 1.15 Last less than 7 days (e.g. wind, earthquake…)
Standard term 1 Between short and long term (e.g. snow,
occupancy, wheel loads…)
Long term 0.65 Subjected to continuous load (e.g. dead loads,
fixed machinery…)
(Table 5.3.2.2 of CSA O86)

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3) Load duration factor, KD
▪ For standard-term loads, PL is greater than the Ps

𝐾𝐷 = 1.0 − 0.5 log 𝑃𝐿 /𝑃𝑠 ≥ 0.65

Where:
PL = specified long-term load
Ps = specified standard-term load based on S and L loads acting alone or
in combination
= S, L, S+0.5L, or 0.5S+L, determined using importance factors
equal to 1.0

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3) Load duration factor, KD
▪ For standard-term loads, PL is greater than the Ps

𝐾𝐷 = 1.0 − 0.5 log 𝑃𝐿 /𝑃𝑠 ≥ 0.65

Specified standard-term load Ps (kPa)

KD
1.0 1.9 2.0 2.4
Specified long-term 1.5 0.91 1.00 1.00 1.00
load PL (kPa) 2.0 0.85 0.99 1.00 1.00
2.5 0.80 0.94 0.95 0.99
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4) Service condition factors, KS
▪ Unless specifically permitted by the manufacturers, CLT panels
are only used in dry service conditions for which
𝐾𝑆𝑏 = 𝐾𝑆𝑐 = 𝐾𝑆𝑝 = 𝐾𝑆𝑡 = 𝐾𝑆𝑣 = 𝐾𝑆𝐸 = 1.0

5) System factor, KH
▪ KH is to be taken as 1.0 for all strength properties of CLT
panels.

25
6) Treatment factor, KT
▪ CLT shall not be treated with water-borne preservatives after
gluing
▪ For CLT treated with fire-retardant or other potentially strength-
reducing chemicals, strength and stiffness is required to be
based on documented results of tests.

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 7) CLT under bending
P ┌A P ┌B
y y
h h
z z
└A └B
A-A B-B

2 𝑬𝑰𝒚 2 𝑬𝑰 𝒆𝒇𝒇,𝒚 2
𝑀 = 𝜎𝐼𝑦 = 𝜎 𝑀𝐶𝐿𝑇 = 𝜎
ℎ 𝐸 ℎ 𝐸 ℎ
where 𝜎= bending strength 𝐸𝐼 𝑒𝑓𝑓,𝑦 = effective bending stiffness
𝐼𝑦 = moment of inertia of cross section
𝐸= Young’s modulus
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = bending stiffness of cross section
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 7) CLT under bending
▪ The out-of-plane factored bending moment resistance:
(a) For the major strength axis
𝑀𝑟,𝑦 = ∅𝐹𝑏 𝑆𝑒𝑓𝑓,𝑦 𝐾𝑟𝑏,𝑦
where ∅ = 0.9
𝐹𝑏 = 𝑓𝑏 𝐾𝐷 𝐾𝐻 𝐾𝑆𝑏 𝐾𝑇
where 𝑓𝑏 = specified bending strength of laminations in the longitudinal layers, MPa
𝑬𝑰 𝒆𝒇𝒇,𝒚 2
𝑆𝑒𝑓𝑓,𝑦 =
𝐸 ℎ
where 𝐸𝐼 𝑒𝑓𝑓,𝑦 = effective bending stiffness of the panel for the major strength axis, N∙mm2
𝐸= specified modulus of elasticity of laminations in the longitudinal layers, MPa
ℎ= thickness of the panel, mm
𝐾𝑟𝑏,𝑦 = 0.85
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 7) CLT under bending
▪ The out-of-plane factored bending moment resistance:
(b) For the minor strength axis
𝑀𝑟,𝑥 = ∅𝐹𝑏 𝑆𝑒𝑓𝑓,𝑥 𝐾𝑟𝑏,𝑥
where ∅ = 0.9
𝐹𝑏 = 𝑓𝑏 𝐾𝐷 𝐾𝐻 𝐾𝑆𝑏 𝐾𝑇
where 𝑓𝑏 = specified bending strength of laminations in the transverse layers, MPa
𝐸𝐼 𝑒𝑓𝑓,𝑥 2
𝑆𝑒𝑓𝑓,𝑥 =
𝐸 ℎ𝑥
where 𝐸𝐼 𝑒𝑓𝑓,𝑥 = effective bending stiffness of the panel for the minor strength axis, N∙mm2
𝐸= specified modulus of elasticity of laminations in the transverse layers, MPa
ℎ𝑥 = thickness of the panel without the outer longitudinal layers, mm
𝐾𝑟𝑏,𝑥 = 1.0
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 7) CLT under bending
▪ The factored shear resistance:
(a) For the major strength axis 𝑉𝑟,𝑧𝑦 = ∅𝐹𝑠 2𝐴𝑔,𝑧𝑦 Τ3
(b)For the minor strength axis 𝑉𝑟,𝑧𝑥 = ∅𝐹𝑠 2𝐴𝑔,𝑧𝑥 Τ3
where ∅ = 0.9
𝐹𝑠 = 𝑓𝑠 𝐾𝐷 𝐾𝐻 𝐾𝑆𝑣 𝐾𝑇
where 𝑓𝑠 = specified strength in rolling shear of laminations in the longitudinal layers, MPa
𝐴𝑔,𝑧𝑦 = gross cross-sectional area of the panel for the major strength axis
(including all layers), mm2
𝐴𝑔,𝑧𝑥 = gross cross-sectional area of the panel for the minor strength axis
(not including the outer layers), mm2

30
Example 1: CLT floor panel (Strength)
Design single span floor CLT panels
Conditions:
▪ Panel span = 6 m
▪ Panel width = 1 m
▪ Specified dead load = 1.5 kPa
▪ Specified live load = 2.4 kPa
▪ Standard load duration
▪ Dry service condition
▪ Untreated
Use stress grade V1 oriented about its major strength axis.
The thickness of each ply is 35 mm.
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Example 1: CLT floor panel (Strength)

Calculation:

Total factored load = 1.25 × 1.5 + 1.5 × 2.4 = 5.48 𝑘𝑃𝑎

𝑤𝑓 = 5.48 × 1𝑚 = 5.48 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
𝑤𝑓 𝐿2 5.48×6.02
𝑀𝑓 = = = 24.6 𝑘𝑁 ∙ 𝑚/𝑚
8 8
𝑤𝑓 𝐿 5.48×6.0
𝑉𝑓 = = = 16.4 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
2 8
From CLT Strength Selection Tables (CWC 2017) try a 5-ply, V1 stress grade (h=175mm)
𝑀𝑟,𝑦 = 31.2 𝑘𝑁 ∙ 𝑚/𝑚 > 24.6 𝑘𝑁 ∙ 𝑚/𝑚 Acceptable
𝑉𝑟,𝑧𝑦 = 66.2 𝑘𝑁/𝑚 > 16.4 𝑘𝑁/𝑚 Acceptable

32
 8) Serviceability check
▪ Deflection (bending, shear and creep effects)
∆𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ∆𝑆𝑇 + ∆𝐿𝑇 𝐾𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑝

where ∆𝑆𝑇 = elastic deflection due to short term and/or standard term loads, without dead load
in combination
∆L𝑇 = instantaneous elastic deflection due to long term loads
𝐾𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑝 = creep adjustment factor = 2.0 for dry service condition

33
 8) Serviceability check
▪ Deflection under a specified uniformly distributed load, ω
5 𝜔𝐿4 1 𝜔𝐿2 𝜅
∆= +
384 (𝐸𝐼)𝑒𝑓𝑓 8 (𝐺𝐴)𝑒𝑓𝑓
where (𝐸𝐼)𝑒𝑓𝑓 = effective bending stiffness
(𝐺𝐴)𝑒𝑓𝑓 = effective in-plane (planar) shear rigidity

▪ For a concentrated line load, P, in the middle of a single span CLT panel
1 𝑃𝐿3 1 𝑃𝐿𝜅
∆= +
48 (𝐸𝐼)𝑒𝑓𝑓 4 (𝐺𝐴)𝑒𝑓𝑓
where 𝜅= form factor
= for rectangular cross-sections
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Example 2: CLT floor panel (Serviceability)
For the same cross section and design conditions as in Example 1
Total specified load = 1.5 + 2.4 = 3.90𝑘𝑃𝑎
Total specified live load = 2.4 𝑘𝑃𝑎

Calculation
Considering major strength axis, the live load is L = 2.4 𝑘𝑃𝑎
From CLT Serviceability Selection Tables (CWC 2017) for vibration and deflation, the
maximum panel lengths for stress grade V1, 5-ply, are 5.27 m and 6.63 m, respectively.
6 m floor span exceeds the vibration span limit.
A different grade or thickness of panel would be required. For example, a 7-ply V1 stress
grade panel has a vibration controlled maximum span of 6.58 m.

35
9.4 Design of CLT shearwall

36
1) General
▪ Platform-type construction, height limit: 30 m
▪ High seismic zones (𝑖. 𝑒. 𝐼𝐸 𝐹𝑎 𝑆𝑎 0.2 > 0.75), height limit: 20 m
▪ The factored shear resistance of CLT shearwalls shall be
governed by the resistance of the connections
▪ Assuming each individual panel acts as a rigid body (CSA O86 does
not provide the in-plane bending and shear strength and stiffness of CLT panels)

37
2) Seismic design consideration (Capacity design
principles)
▪ Energy dissipative connections
(wall-foundation, wall- supporting floor, wall-parallel wall,
discrete hold-downs)
▪ Non-dissipative connections
(continuous steel rods, floor-supporting wall, wall-
perpendicular wall

38
3) Energy-dissipative connections
▪ Yielding mode governs the resistance
▪ At least moderately ductile
▪ Possess sufficient deformation capacity to allow for the CLT
panels to develop their assumed deformation behaviour
(rocking, sliding)

39
4) Non-dissipative connections
▪ Not to yield while the energy-dissipative connections reach
their ultimate resistance, and to tolerate the displacement
demands when the energy-dissipative connections reach the
target displacement
▪ The factored resistance of the non-dissipative connections >
strength demand on them when the energy-dissipative
connections reach their 95th percentile of ultimate resistance
under cyclic loading

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5) Aspect ratios of CLT shearwalls
▪ 1:1 and higher, with the maximum 4:1 (ensures the ductility of
the structure and desirable rocking mechanism)
𝑅𝑑 = 2.0, 𝑅𝑜 = 1.5
▪ Less than 1:1, or acting in sliding only
𝑅𝑑 𝑅𝑜 = 1.3

41
6) Deflections
▪ In principle, it should account panel bending, shear, sliding,
rocking and deformation of supports
▪ For simplicity in design situations, the O86 assumes CLT panels
act as rigid bodies, and therefore panel bending and shear
deformation may be ignored

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Two-panel CLT shearwall strength
Conditions: q
▪ Hold-down and panel joints are assumed as rigid- F
plastic
▪ Rocking motion is assumed
▪ Hold-down resists the uplift caused by overturning
Fc,y Fc,y h
▪ Angle brackets contribute only to horizontal shear
resistance (using slotted holes in the uplift direction)
▪ The shear force at the vertical panel joint is
represented by 𝐹𝑐,𝑦
T Fa Fa F a Fa T

b b

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Couple-panel (CP) kinematic mode
Each panel rotates about its respective point of rotation q
The moment about the bottom right corner of the wall F
σ 𝑀𝑜 = 𝑟ℎ ∙ 2𝑏 + 𝑞 ∙ 2𝑏 ∙ 𝑏 − 𝐹 ∙ ℎ − 𝐶1 ∙ 𝑏 = 0
Where 𝐶1 and 𝐶2 are reaction forces
𝑏
𝐹 = (2𝑟ℎ + 2𝑞𝑏 − 𝐶1 )
ℎ nrc nrc
Where 𝐶1 can be found based on equilibrium in the
vertical direction for the left-hand side panel
෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 0 → 𝐶1 = 𝑞𝑏 + 𝑟ℎ − 𝑛 ∙ 𝑟𝑐 rh
C1 C2
The maximum lateral force can be written as a function
of the panel joint and hold-down strength:
𝑏
𝑅𝑤 = 𝐹 = (𝑟ℎ + 𝑞𝑏 + 𝑛 ∙ 𝑟𝑐 )
ℎ 44
Single-wall (SW) kinematic mode
Two panels rotate about one center of rotation q
The moment about the bottom right corner of the wall F
σ 𝑀𝑜 = 𝑟ℎ ∙ 2𝑏 + 𝑞 ∙ 2𝑏 ∙ 𝑏 − 𝐹 ∙ ℎ = 0
The lateral force acting on the wall can be obtained
𝑟ℎ ∙ 2𝑏 𝑞 ∙ (2𝑏)2
𝐹= +
ℎ 2ℎ nrc nrc
Using small angle approximating, and performing the
static equilibrium for a single panel
෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑛 ∙ 𝑟𝑐 − 𝑞𝑏 − 𝑟ℎ = 0 → 𝑛 ∙ 𝑟𝑐 = 𝑞𝑏 + 𝑟ℎ
rh
𝐹 ∙ ℎ 𝑞 ∙ 2𝑏 𝐹 ∙ ℎ C2
𝑛 ∙ 𝑟𝑐 = 𝑞𝑏 + − =
2𝑏 2 2𝑏

45
Single-wall (SW) kinematic mode
Two panels rotate about one center of rotation q
The lateral force, F, can also be expressed as F
𝑛 ∙ 𝑟𝑐 ∙ 2𝑏
𝐹=
ℎ
The lateral force acting on the wall is the minimum of the
panel joint strength and the hold-down strength:
𝑛 ∙ 𝑟𝑐 ∙ 2𝑏 𝑟ℎ ∙ 2𝑏 𝑞 ∙ (2𝑏)2 nrc nrc
𝑅𝑤 = 𝑀𝑖𝑛( , + )
ℎ ℎ 2ℎ

rh
C2

46
Example 3: Two-panel CLT shearwall strength
Calculation 8 kN/m
Case A: Strength governed by panel joint F
The elastic strength for vertical joint (𝑟𝑐 ) and hold-down
(𝑟ℎ ) are assumed equal to 2kN and 100kN, respectively
𝑏 1.4
CP: 𝑅𝑤 = 𝐹 = (𝑟
+ 𝑞𝑏 + 𝑛 ∙ 𝑟𝑐 )= (100 + 8 × 1.4 + 18rc 18rc
ℎ ℎ 2.7 2.7m
18 × 2) = 76.3𝑘𝑁
𝑛∙𝑟𝑐 ∙2𝑏 𝑟ℎ ∙2𝑏 𝑞∙ 2𝑏 2
SW: 𝑅𝑤 = 𝑀𝑖𝑛 , + =
ℎ ℎ 2ℎ
18×2×2.8 100×2.8 8× 2.8 2
𝑀𝑖𝑛 , + = 𝑀𝑖𝑛 37.3,115.3
=
2.7 2.7 2×2.7 T T
37.3𝑘𝑁 Fa Fa F a Fa

The wall strength is taken as the minimum obtained from 1.4 m 1.4 m
the two assumptions: 37.3kN
47
Example 3: Two-panel CLT shearwall strength
Calculation 8 kN/m
Case B: Strength governed by hold-down F
The elastic strength for vertical joint (𝑟𝑐 ) and hold-down
(𝑟ℎ ) are assumed equal to 5kN and 50kN, respectively
𝑏 1.4
CP: 𝑅𝑤 = 𝐹 = (𝑟
+ 𝑞𝑏 + 𝑛 ∙ 𝑟𝑐 )= (50 + 8 × 1.4 + 18rc 18rc
ℎ ℎ 2.7 2.7m
18 × 5) = 78.4𝑘𝑁
𝑛∙𝑟𝑐 ∙2𝑏 𝑟ℎ ∙2𝑏 𝑞∙ 2𝑏 2
SW: 𝑅𝑤 = 𝑀𝑖𝑛 , + =
ℎ ℎ 2ℎ
18×5×2.8 50×2.8 8× 2.8 2
𝑀𝑖𝑛 , + = 𝑀𝑖𝑛 93.3,63.5=
2.7 2.7 2×2.7 T T
63.5𝑘𝑁 Fa Fa F a Fa

The wall strength is taken as the minimum obtained from 1.4 m 1.4 m
the two assumptions: 63.5kN
48
This lecture is developed based on the CLT Handbook [1], Wood Design Manual [2] and
CSA O86-2014 [3].

References
[1] FPInnovations. 2011. CLT Handbook. Quebec, QC, Canada
[2] Canadian Wood Council (CWC). 2017. Wood design manual. Ottawa, ON, Canada.
[3] Canadian Standards Association (CSA). 2017. Engineering design in wood. CSA
O86-14, Toronto, ON, Canada.

49