CLT – Design and use

Henrik Danielsson
Division of Structural Mechanics, Lund University, Sweden
CLT – Design and use slide 2

CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) – Design and use

• Favourable mechanical properties

+ strength
+ stiffness
• Environmental friendly
• Pre-fabrication, rapid on-site erection
CLT – Design and use slide 3

Outline

Introduction
• Production
• Typical dimensions and layups
• Out-of-plane and in-plane loading
• Basic mechanical behavior
Modelling
• Beam models
• Plate/shell models
Design
• Ultimate Limit state design
• Serviceability Limit state design
Use of CLT – two examples
CLT – Design and use slide 4

Production
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Typical dimensions
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Typical Layups
3 layers Flat side bonding Edge-bonding?

5 layers
Gaps Grooves

7 layers
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Out-of-plane loading

Line supported – bending in one dir. Line supported – bending in two dirs.

Point supported Openings, cantilever

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In-plane loading

Line supported

Point supported Openings, cantilever

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Definitions and basic assumptions

Stiffness properties

Assumptions
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The issue of rolling shear

Shear stiffness

Shear strength

Low strength! Low stiffness!

The low rolling shear stiffness and strength need to be considered.

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Timoshenko beam deformation

Timoshenko beam

Total deformation
=
Bending deformation
+
Shear deformation
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Deformation in CLT

Bending deformation
Shear deformation

Significant contribution to
shear deformations due to
rolling shear in transverse layers.
CLT – Design and use slide 13

Outline

Introduction
• Production
• Typical dimensions and layups
• Out-of-plane and in-plane loading
• Basic mechanical behavior
Modelling
• Beam models
• Plate/shell models
Design
• Ultimate Limit state design
• Serviceability Limit state design
Use of CLT – two examples
CLT – Design and use slide 14

Structural analysis - modelling approaches

Beam modelling approaches
• Gamma-method
• Timoshenko theory (shear correction factor)
• Shear analogy method

Plate/Shell modelling approaches

• “Beam grillage”
• Orthotropic plate/shell
effective element thicknesses
• Orthotropic plate/shell
with correction factors
• Orthotropic plate/shell
based on laminate theory
Full 3D FE-analysis
CLT – Design and use slide 15

Gamma-method

Approximate method for consideration of

shear flexibility of the transverse layers.

(Analogy: Mechanically jointed beams acc. to EC5, Annex B)

Calculation of beam deflection according to Bernoulli-Euler theory

using an effective bending stiffness (second moment of inertia)

Reduction of Steiner part

g
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Gamma-method
Effective bending stiffness (second moment of inertia)

Thickness of transversal layers

Rolling shear stiffness

CLT – Design and use slide 17

Gamma-method
Effective bending stiffness (second moment of inertia)

Reference length

Simply supported beam:

Continuous beam:
Cantilever beam:
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Gamma-method

Ratio of effective to net stiffness as influenced by span length L

CLT 5s 100 mm
(20-20-20-20-20)

CLT 3s 120 mm
(40-40-40)
CLT 5s 200 mm
(40-40-40-40-40)
CLT – Design and use slide 19

Gamma-method

SUMMARY

Approximate method for consideration of

shear flexibility of the transverse layers.

+ Calculation of beam deflection using Bernoulli-Euler beam theory

- Bending stiffness depends of structural system (effective beam length)

CLT – Design and use slide 20

Timoshenko theory with shear correction factor

Consideration of shear flexibility

of a composite beam.

Bending stiffness:
second moment of inertia of net cross section

Shear stiffness:
Timoshenko theory - shear correction factor
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Timoshenko theory with shear correction factor

Shear stiffness:
Timoshenko theory - shear correction factor

One layer only (= homogeneous rect. beam):

Typical CLT layups:

CLT – Design and use slide 22

Timoshenko theory with shear correction factor

SUMMARY
Consideration of shear flexibility
of a composite beam.

+ Shear stiffness as cross sectional property

- Shear deformations (Timoshenko theory) need to be considered

CLT – Design and use slide 23

Plate/shell modelling approaches

Simplified modelling approaches

for out-of-plane (plate bending)
loading situations

“Beam grillage” model Orthotropic plate with

Isometric

effective thicknesses

Y X
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Plate/shell modelling approaches

Orthotropic shell

• Mindlin-Reissner plate theory

• Shear correction factors

• … and other (“CLT-specific”)

correction factors.

Enables analysis of 3D structures

exposed to a combination of
out-of-plane and in-plane loading.

(Plate bending and membrane action)

CLT – Design and use slide 25

Plate/shell modelling approaches

Orthotropic shell

Bending and twisting

Out-of-plane shear

In-plane (membrane) actions

CLT – Design and use slide 26

Plate/shell modelling approaches

Orthotropic shell

Reduction factors relating to:

• Gaps (no edge-bonding) or cracks

• Shear correction (rolling shear)

0.65
0.25

0.75
CLT – Design and use slide 27

Outline

Introduction
• Production
• Typical dimensions and layups
• Out-of-plane and in-plane loading
• Basic mechanical behavior
Modelling
• Beam models
• Plate/shell models
Design
• Ultimate Limit state design
• Serviceability Limit state design
Use of CLT – two examples
CLT – Design and use slide 28

Design of CLT elements

Current status of CLT in relation to standards

CLT is not yet included in European standards, e.g. Eurocode 5 (EN 1995-1-1),
with the exception of German and Austrian National Applications Documents.

Design according to producers specific European Technical Assessments (ETAs).

Design handbooks are also available, e.g.

• “BSPHandbuch – Holz-massivbauweise in Brettsperrholz” (in German)

Schickhofer, Bogensperger, Moosbrugger, TU Graz, 2010.

• “CLT Handbook” (in English)

Gagnon, Pirvu, FP Innovations, Canada, 2011.

• “Cross Laminated Timber Structural Designs” (in German and English)

Wallner-Novak, Koppelhuber, Pock, ProHolz Austria, 2014.

• “KL-trähandbok” (in Swedish)

Svenskt trä, to be published in 2017.
CLT – Design and use slide 29

Design of CLT elements - ULS

Verification of capacity on cross sectional level:

or material point level: s

NOTE: Notation (indices) for cross sectional forces/moments,
stresses and strengths are not consistent in literature
Example bending moment around y-axis
bending moment giving normal stress in x-direction
CLT – Design and use slide 30

Design of CLT elements - ULS

Overview of design w.r.t. to: Bending mx and my

Out-of-plane shear vxz and vyz
In-plane axial loading nx and ny
(In-plane shear nxy)
Combined loading and buckling
In-plane beam loading
CLT – Design and use slide 31

Design of CLT elements - ULS

Typical characteristic strengths found in ETAs (C24) [CrossTimberSystems]

Bending strength
Tensile strength – along grain
Compression strength – along grain
Tensile strength – perp-to-grain
Compressive strength – perp-to-grain
Shear strength – longitudinal shear
Shear strength – rolling shear

Design strength

Partial factor for material Modification factor

Sweden According to GLT for SC 1 and 2
Austria (CLT not allowed in SC 3)
Germany
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Design of CLT elements - ULS

Out-of-plane loading - Bending moment
Bending in strong direction – 5s Bending in weak direction – 5s

General format
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Design of CLT elements - ULS

Out-of-plane loading - Bending moment (cont.)
Bending in strong direction – 5s Bending in weak direction – 5s

Bending in strong direction – 3s Bending in weak direction – 3s

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Design of CLT elements - ULS

Out-of-plane loading - Bending moment (cont.)

General format

System factor

Width of uniformly stressed element [m]

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Design of CLT elements - ULS

Out-of-plane loading - Bending moment (cont.)

Bending around the x- and the y-axis give

normal stress in different directions
and
normal stress in different layers.

Verification of strength can be carried out

separately for the two directions.
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Design of CLT elements - ULS

Out-of-plane loading – Shear force
Shear force strong direction – 5s Shear force weak direction – 5s

Rolling shear
General format
Longitudinal shear
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Design of CLT elements - ULS

Out-of-plane loading – Shear force (cont.)
Shear force strong direction – 5s Shear force weak direction – 5s

Shear force strong direction – 3s Shear force weak direction – 3s

CLT – Design and use slide 38

Design of CLT elements - ULS

Out-of-plane loading – Shear force (cont.)
Shear force strong direction – 5s Shear force weak direction – 5s

Due to interaction of shear and perp-to-grain tension,

Grooves rolling shear strength should be reduced for
laminations with:

• grooves
• aspect ratio
CLT – Design and use slide 39

Design of CLT elements - ULS

Out-of-plane loading – Shear force (cont.)

Shear forces vxz and vyz give

shear stress in different directions,
but in the same plane
and
within the same layer.

Interaction of longitudinal and rolling shear.

Recommendation [ProHolz Handbook]: “Verification of strength can with

sufficient accuracy be carried out separately for the two shear stress components.”
CLT – Design and use slide 40

Design of CLT elements - ULS

In-plane loading – Axial force
Axial force in strong direction – 5s Axial force in weak direction – 5s

General format

Considering layers with grain direction in direction of loading

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Design of CLT elements - ULS

In-plane loading – Axial force (cont.)
Axial force in strong direction – 5s Axial force in weak direction – 5s

Axial force in strong direction – 3s Axial force in weak direction – 3s

CLT – Design and use slide 42

Design of CLT elements - ULS

In-plane loading – Axial force (cont.)

Axial force along the x- and the y-axis give

normal stress in different directions
and
normal stress in different layers.

Verification of strength can be carried out

separately for the two directions.
CLT – Design and use slide 43

Design of CLT elements - ULS

In-plane loading – shear
Net shear failure
(longitudinal layers)

Gross shear Shear failure in

failure crossing areas

Net shear failure

(longitudinal layers)
CLT – Design and use slide 44

Design of CLT elements - ULS

Combined loading – Bending and Axial force
considering buckling

Reduction factor for buckling

Slenderness

Radius of gyration Effective stiffness

(e.g. according to Gamma-method)
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Design of CLT elements - ULS

In-plane beam loading
Point supported element at in-plane beam loading (wall element, H ≈ 3 m)

t s

Span-to-height ratios L/H ≤ 4  Nonlinear bending stress distribution

with higher peak values compared to
the linear beam theory distribution
CLT – Design and use slide 46

Design of CLT elements - ULS

In-plane beam loading

Span-to-height ratios from about L/H > 4

 Verification by beam theory possible

At holes and notches:

Tension perpendicular to beam axis.
At supports:
Compression perpendicular to beam axis.

Transverse layers act

as reinforcement w.r.t
actions perpendicular
to beam axis

Bending carried by normal stress

parallel to grain in longitudinal layers
CLT – Design and use slide 47

Design of CLT elements - ULS

In-plane beam loading – Tests of CLT beams with holes/notches [Lund, 2016]

Hole placed in a position of combined bending and shear – 4 individual tests

Hole size hd = 0.5h

Two beams failed in parallel

to grain tension/bending
in longitudinal laminations
around the hole

Two beams failed in parallel

to grain tension/bending
in longitudinal laminations
at mid-span
CLT – Design and use slide 48

Outline

Introduction
• Production
• Typical dimensions and layups
• Out-of-plane and in-plane loading
• Basic mechanical behavior
Modelling
• Beam models
• Plate/shell models
Design
• Ultimate Limit state design
• Serviceability Limit state design
Use of CLT – two examples
CLT – Design and use slide 49

Design of CLT elements - SLS

SLS - Serviceability limit state
Verification of structural behavior with respect to

• Deformation
- Ensure appearance
- Ensure utilization (avoid damage of underlying parts)
- Criteria for deformation at different load situations:
Characteristic, Frequent, Quasi-permanent

• Springiness and vibrations

- Ensure acceptable floor response for user
CLT – Design and use slide 50

Design of CLT elements - SLS

Deformation – some specific considerations for CLT

Correct assessment of element stiffness and deformation

Bending deformation
Shear deformation

Long term loading and creep

CLT show larger deformation/creep (compared to e.g. GLT)

kdef SC 1 SC 2
Gulam, Solid timber 0.60 0.80
CLT 0.80 1.00
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Design of CLT elements - SLS

Springiness and vibrations

Floor response governed by • Span

• Stiffness
• Mass
• Damping
• Support conditions

Eurocode 5 recommendations:
1st natural frequency (f1 ≥ 8 Hz)
Deflection from 1 kN point load (SS-EN: w ≤ 1.5 mm)
Impulse velocity response
are in many cases insufficient to assure acceptable floor performance.
CLT – Design and use slide 52

Design of CLT elements - SLS

Springiness and vibrations

Frequency

Class I Offices, apartments

in multi-family houses

Class II Single-family houses

Class III Floor with low demands

Classification possible
w(1.0 kN)
via acceleration response
[ProHolz, Hamm & Richter 2009]
CLT – Design and use slide 53

Design of CLT elements - SLS

Springiness and vibrations – some specific considerations for CLT

LC 1: Uniform unit load Isometric

Support conditions:
CLT elements carrying loads in
Z
one or two directions? X
Y

y
x

y
x

z
CLT – Design and use slide 54

Design of CLT elements - SLS

Springiness and vibrations – some specific considerations for CLT

LC 1: Uniform unit load Isometric
Global Deformations u

Deformation at uniform load Z

Y
X

y
x

y
x

z
CLT – Design and use slide 55

Design of CLT elements - SLS

Springiness and vibrations – some specific considerations for CLT

RF-DYNAM CA1 Isometric
Normal mode No. 2 - 9.46713 Hz
Natural Vibration u

1st Natural frequency Z

Y
X

8 Hz
y
x

y
x

10 Hz
CLT – Design and use slide 56

Outline

Introduction
• Production
• Typical dimensions and layups
• Out-of-plane and in-plane loading
• Basic mechanical behavior
Modelling
• Beam models
• Plate/shell models
Design
• Ultimate Limit state design
• Serviceability Limit state design
Use of CLT – two examples
CLT – Design and use slide 57

Concluding remarks

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)

• Favourable mechanical properties
+ strength
+ stiffness
• Environmental friendly
• Pre-fabrication, rapid on-site erection

• Versatile element: out-of-plane loading, in-plane loading

• Complex mechanical behavior – many possible failure modes

• On-going research – not yet included in Eurocode 5

Thank you for your attention.
Henrik Danielsson
Division of Structural Mechanics, Lund University, Sweden