Lateral Resistance of CLT Wall Panels Composed of Square Timber Larch Core and Plywood Cross Bands

Abstract

Thinned, small larch logs have small diameters and no value-added final use, except as wood chips, pallets, or fuel wood, which are products with very low economic value; however, their mechanical strength is suitable for structural applications. In this study, small larch logs were sawed, dried, and cut into square timbers (with a 90 mm × 90 mm cross section) that were laterally glued to form core panels used to manufacture cross-laminated timber (CLT) wall panels. The surface and back of these core panels were covered with 12-mm-thick structural plywood panels, used as cross bands to obtain three-ply CLT wall panels. This attachment procedure was conducted in two different ways: gluing and pressing (CGCLT) or gluing and nailing (NGCLT). The size of the as-manufactured CLT panels was 1,220 mm × 2,440 mm, the same as that of the plywood panels. The final wall panels were tested under lateral shear force in accordance with KS F 2154. As the lateral load resistance test required 2,440 mm × 2,440 mm specimens, two CLT wall panels had to be attached in parallel. In addition, the final CLT panels had tongued and grooved edges to allow parallel joints between adjacent pieces. For comparison, conventional light-frame timber shear walls and midply wall systems were also tested under the same conditions. Shear walls with edge nail spacing of 150 mm and 100 mm, the midply wall system, and the fabricated CGCLT and NGCLT wall panels exhibited maximum lateral resistances of 6.1 kN/m (100%), 9.7 kN/m (158%), 16.9 kN/m (274%), 29.6 kN/m (482%), and 35.8 kN/m (582%), respectively.