Cross-laminated timber

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) (a sub-category of engineered wood[1]) is a wood panel product made from gluing together layers of solid-sawn lumber, i.e., lumber cut from a single log. Each layer of boards is usually oriented perpendicular to adjacent layers and glued on the wide faces of each board, usually in a symmetric way so that the outer layers have the same orientation. An odd number of layers is most common, but there are configurations with even numbers as well (which are then arranged to give a symmetric configuration). Regular timber is an anisotropic material, meaning that the physical properties change depending on the direction at which the force is applied. By gluing layers of wood at right angles, the panel is able to achieve better structural rigidity in both directions. It is similar to plywood but with distinctively thicker laminations (or lamellae).

CLT-plate with three layers made from spruce

CLT is distinct from glued laminated timber (known as glulam), which is a product with all laminations orientated in the same way.[2]

History

CLT was first developed and used in Germany and Austria in the early 1990s. Austrian-born researcher Gerhard Schickhofer presented his PhD thesis research on CLT in 1994.[3] Austria published the first national CLT guidelines in 2002, based on Schickhofer's extensive research. These national guidelines, "Holzmassivbauweise", are credited with paving a path for the acceptance of engineered elements in multistory buildings. Gerhard Schickhofer was awarded the 2019 Marcus Wallenberg Prize for their groundbreaking contributions in the field of CLT research.[4]

By the 2000s CLT saw much wider usage in Europe, being used in various building systems such as single-family and multi-story housing. As old growth timber become more difficult to source, CLT and other engineered wood products appeared on the market.[5]

Building code requirements (United States)

In 2015, CLT was incorporated into the National Design Specification for wood construction. This specification was used as a reference for the 2015 International Building Code, in turn allowing CLT to be recognized as a code-compliant construction material. These code changes permitted CLT to be used in the assembly of exterior walls, floors, partition walls and roofs. Also included in the 2015 IBC were char rates for fire protection, connection provisions and fastener requirements specific to CLT. To meet structural performance requirements, the code mandated that structural CLT products met the requirements specified by ANSI/APA PRG 320.[6]

Manufacturing

The manufacturing of CLT can be split up into nine steps: Primary lumber selection, lumber grouping, lumber planing, lumber cutting, adhesive application, panel lay-up, assembly pressing, quality control and finally marketing and shipping.[5]:77–91

The primary lumber selection consists of two to three parts, moisture content check, visual grading and sometimes depending on the application structural testing. Depending on the results of this selection, the timber fit for CLT will be used to create either construction grade CLT or appearance grade CLT. Timber that cannot fit into either category may be used for different products such as plywood or glued laminated timber.

The grouping step ensures the timber of various categories are grouped together. For construction grade CLT, the timber that has better structural properties will be used in the interior layers of the CLT panel while the two outermost layers will be of higher aesthetic qualities. For aesthetic grade CLT, all layers will be of higher visual qualities.

The planing step improves the surfaces of the timber. The purpose of this is to improve the performance of the adhesive between layers. Approximately 2.5 mm is trimmed off the top and bottom faces and 3.8 mm is trimmed off the sides to ensure a flat surface.[7] There are some cases in which only the top and bottom faces are treated; this is typically the case if the sides do not have to be adhered to another substance. It is possible that this step may change the overall moisture content of the timber; however, this rarely happens.

The timber is then cut to a certain length depending on the application and specific client needs.

The adhesive is then applied to the timber, typically through a machine. Application of the adhesive must be airtight to ensure there are no holes or air gaps in the glue, and the adhesive must be applied at a constant rate.

A panel lay-up is performed to stick the individual timber layers together. According to section 8.3.1 of the performance standard ANSI/AP PRG 320, at least 80% of surface area between layers must be bound together.

Assembly pressing fully completes the adhering process. There are two main types of pressing methods, vacuum pressing and hydraulic pressing. In vacuum pressing more than one CLT panel can be pressed at one time making the process more time and energy efficient. Another advantage to vacuum pressing is that it can apply pressure to curved shaped CLT panels because of the way the pressure is distributed around the whole structure. With hydraulic pressing, advantages include higher pressures and the pressure placed on each edge can be specified.[8]

Quality control is then performed on the CLT panels. Typically a sanding machine is used to create a better surface. The CLT panels are also cut to suit their specific design. Often, if the panels need to be conjoined to form longer structures finger joints are used.

Adhesives

Adhesives include melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF), although there are also formaldehyde free adhesives.[9] Polyurethane and phenol formaldehyde resin (PRF) are options.[10]

Advantages

CLT has some advantages as a building material, including:

  • Design flexibility – CLT has many applications. It can be used in walls, roofs or ceilings. The thickness of the panels can easily be increased by adding more layers and the length of the panels can be increased by joining panels together.
  • Eco-friendly – CLT is a renewable, green and sustainable material,[11] since it is made out of wood. It can sequester carbon, but differences in forest management practices translate into variations in the amount of carbon sequestered.[12]
  • Prefabrication – Floors or walls made from CLT can be fully manufactured before reaching the job site, which decreases lead times and could potentially lower overall construction costs.
  • Thermal insulation – Being made out of multiple layers of wood, the thermal insulation of CLT can be high depending on the thickness of the panel.
  • CLT is a relatively light building material – Foundations do not need to be as large and the machinery required on-site are smaller than those needed to lift heavier buildings materials.[5] These aspects also provide the additional capacity to erect CLT buildings on sites that might otherwise be incapable of supporting heavier projects, and eases infilling projects where construction is especially tight or difficult to access due to the preexisting buildings around the site.[13]

Disadvantages

CLT also has some disadvantages, including:

  • Higher production costs – Being a relatively new material, CLT is not produced in many locations. Also, the production of CLT panels requires a considerable amount of raw materials compared to regular stud walls.
  • Limited track record – CLT is a relatively new material, so it has not been used in many building projects. A considerable amount of technical research has been done on CLT[5][14][15][16][17] but it takes time to integrate new practices and results into the building industry because of the building industry's path-dependent culture which resists deviating from established practices.[18][19][20]
  • Acoustic performance – In order to achieve acceptable acoustic performance, more CLT panels must be used. According to the CLT handbook, two CLT panels with mineral in-between achieves the international building requirement for sound insulation in walls.[5]:369

Uses

Pavilions

In September 2016 the world's first timber mega-tube structure was built at the Chelsea College of Arts in London, using hardwood CLT panels. The 115-foot-long (35 m) "Smile" was designed by architect Alison Brooks and engineered by Arup, in collaboration with the American Hardwood Export Council, for the London Design Festival. The structure is a curved tube in a shape of a smile touching the floor at its centre. It has the maximum capacity of 60 people.[21]

High-rise buildings
Mjøstårnet in Brumunddal, Norway, is currently the world's tallest timber building

Because of CLT's structural properties, its ability to be prefabricated and how light it is compared to other construction materials, CLT is starting to be used in many mid-rise and high-rise buildings (see: Plyscraper). With its 4,649 cubic metres of CLT provided by UK-based B&K Structures, Dalston Lane at Dalston Square is one of the largest CLT projects globally. The project finished in early 2017. Considering the building was built on a brownfield, it was much taller than was thought to be feasible because of how light CLT is.[22][23]

The Wood Innovation and Design Centre at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, Canada became the world's tallest (29.5 meters) modern all-timber structure in 2015, designed by Michael Green Architecture.[24] Completed in September 2016, T3 in Minneapolis, USA, also by Michael Green Architecture, was first modern timber building to be built in the United States in more than 100 years, and at the time of completion was the largest in North America.[25] Framework in Portland, Oregon, planned to utilize CLT for its 12-story structure, to become the tallest timber building in North America.[26] This structure was designed by LEVER Architecture, and may have had the first CLT post-tensioned rocking wall core as the lateral seismic system. This project was cancelled due to funding in 2018.[27]

In Australia, a nine-story all-timber office building was completed in Brisbane in late 2018. Because of CLT’s ability to be prefabricated, construction was finished six weeks earlier than predicted. Due to CLT being lighter than traditional construction materials like concrete and steel, 20% more space was able to be reallocated from structural elements to functional space.[28][29]

The first hybrid structure more than 14 stories tall is UBC’s Brock Commons Residence hall. Completed in September 2017, the building is approximately 53 meters tall with 18 stories and houses approximately 400 students. The architect firm for this building was Acton Ostry Architects, while the structural engineering company was Fast + Epp. Seventeen out of the 18 stories use CLT as the floor panels and glue-laminated timber as the columns, 70% of cladding used in the facade is made from wood. It is estimated that the carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by 2432 tonnes when compared to using concrete and steel. The approximate cost of the building was $51.5 million. This project targeted to achieve LEED gold upon its completion.[30]

Sweden's tallest CLT structure is Kajstaden's Tall Timber Building, completed in early 2020 by C.F. Møller Architects.

Mjøstårnet by Voll Arkitekter in Brumunddal, Norway, is currently the world's tallest timber building at 85.4 meters.[31]

Bridges

CLT is also used in a number of bridge projects. The 160-metre-long Mistissini Bridge is located in Mistissini, Quebec, Canada, and crosses Uupaachikus Pass. The designer for this bridge was Stantec and it was completed in 2014. Locally sourced CLT panels and glue-laminated timber girders were used as the main structural members of the bridge.[32] This project won numerous awards including the National Award of Excellence in the Transportation category at the 48th annual Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC) and also the Engineering a Better Canada Award.[33]

The Maicasagi Bridge is located in the north of Quebec and spans 68 meters. The bridge was completed in 2011 and uses CLT and glue-laminated timber in combination to create two box girders. This combination of timber was chosen because of the ability to be prefabricated allowing for a short lead time compared to a traditional steel bridge.[34]

Parking structures

Modular construction

CLT has been identified as a suitable candidate for use in modular construction.[36] Silicon Valley based modular construction startup Katerra opened a 250,000 square foot modular construction CLT factory in Spokane, Washington in 2019[37] and some politicians are calling for the use of pre-fabricated modular CLT construction to address the housing crisis in cities like Seattle.[38]

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See also

References
  1. https://www.awc.org/pdf/education/des/ReThinkMag-DES610A-MassTimberinNorthAmerica-161031.pdf
  2. "Glulam/CLT Structural Timber Association". Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  3. Schickhofer, Gerhard (2013) [1994]. Starrer und nachgiebiger Verbund bei geschichteten, flächenhaften Holzstrukturen. Graz: Graz University of Technology. doi:10.3217/978-3-85125-262-0. ISBN 978-3-85125-268-2.
  4. Contact, Press; Foundation, Executive Secretary of the Marcus Wallenberg; Kamdj.rqrovwseggn@ekmwrbp.mjorajgbh. "Green technology behind high rise wood-based buildings". Mynewsdesk. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  5. Karacabeyli, Erol; Douglas, Brad; Forest Products Laboratory (U.S.); FPInnovations (Institute); Binational Softwood Lumber Council (2013). CLT handbook: cross-laminated timber. Pointe-Claire, Québec: FPInnovations. ISBN 9780864885548. OCLC 820617275.
  6. "What the 2015 International Building Code means for wood construction: Part I - Construction Specifier". constructionspecifier.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  7. Julien, F. (2010) Manufacturing cross-laminated timber (CLT): Technological and economic analysis, report to Quebec Wood Export Bureau. 201001259-3257AAM. Quebec, QC: FPInnovations
  8. Brandner, Reinhard. (2013). Production and Technology of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT): A state-of-the-art Report. Graz.
  9. "Paradigm shift in the use of adhesives". Timber Online. 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
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  13. Lehmann, Steffen; Lehmann, Steffen (2012-10-18). "Sustainable Construction for Urban Infill Development Using Engineered Massive Wood Panel Systems". Sustainability. 4 (10): 2707–2742. doi:10.3390/su4102707.
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  16. Brandon, Daniel (2018). "Fire Safety Challenges of Tall Wood Buildings–Phase 2: Task 4–Engineering Methods" (PDF). National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Report number: FPRF-2018-04. Fire Protection Research Foundation. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  17. Brandon, Daniel; Dagenais, Christian (March 2018). "Fire Safety Challenges of Tall Wood Buildings Phase 2: Task 5 – Experimental Study of Delamination of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) in Fire" (PDF). National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Fire Protection Research Foundation. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  18. Mahapatra, Krushna; Gustavsson, Leif (2009). General Conditions for Construction of Multistorey Wooden Buildings in Western Europe. Växjö, Sweden: School of Technology and Design, Växjö University. pp. 1–47. ISBN 9789176366943.
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  37. Spokane Valley Economic Development, May 2019
  38. Seattle Should Lead on Mass Timber–and Solve Our Housing Crisis, 14 February 2019
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