Vibration and flexural performance of cross-laminated timber – glulam composite floors

Abstract

This paper presents experimental research on composite cross-laminated timber (CLT) glulam floors. The composite action was achieved using three different types of connectors. The connector stiffness and strength were determined with small-scale shear tests. Quasi-static monotonic four-point bending and vibration tests were conducted on six full-scale (9.1 m long, 1.6 m wide) double T-beam floor segments consisting of 3-ply CLT panels and two glulam beams. The vibration test results indicated that the three connection types had negligible influence on the dynamic properties of the composite floor segments, while the allowable vibration controlled span of the composite panel was around 7.2 m with acceptable subjective evaluations. The load-deformation behaviour observed in the full-scale testing was linear up to failure which was brittle tension at mid-span in one of the glulam beams for all specimens. The ratio between experimental and expected bending stiffness was close to 1.0 for all three connector types demonstrating the adequacy of applying the gamma method to predict the performance of CLT-glulam composite floors. The findings from this research supported the design and construction of the floors for two new school buildings.