Timber Engineering Notebook No. 8: Glued laminated timber structures (part 1)
Abstract
Timber and engineered wood products can be used as the primary material for many forms of structures. While taking advantage of sustainability credentials as a carbon neutral and renewable resource, the engineered wood products are also often selected to be exposed for aesthetic reasons. One of the most versatile engineered wood product materials is glued laminated timber or 'glulam'. Other engineered wood products (EWPs) such as laminated veneer lumber and standard sawn timber products can also be used in place of glulam, taking account of the particular characteristics of that material type. For more information on the range of EWPs available reference should be made to Timber Engineering Notebook No. 2. This notebook (No.8) introduces the engineering principles of some common frame types and describes, in more detail, the glulam material and specification. The technology to remove original wood strength reducing characteristics (e.g. knots) and bond small thicknesses of timber together to form a structural member of significant depth and width, has been used commercially since the 1950s. Glulam manufacturing plants are sophisticated production lines producing quality assured products to enable reliable performance to be achieved for engineered timber structures. This Timber Engineering Notebook provides a review of glulam in two of the most common structural forms: ‘post and beam’ and two dimensional rigid frames.
Reference
Milner Associates. (2013). Timber Engineering Notebook No. 8: Glued laminated timber structures (part 1). The Structural Engineer. https://doi.org/10.56330/tcke8802
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