Valorizing non-standard lumber in mass timber construction: A mechanical model for the computational design and structural analysis of segmented dowel-laminated timber systems
Abstract
Dowel-laminated timber (DLT) is a promising mass timber product with low embodied carbon. By eliminating the need for finger-jointing, segmented DLT topologies that do not require end-to-end joining show potential to lower barriers to mass timber manufacturing. Segmented DLT systems also facilitate the use of wood resources of non-standard length, such as salvaged lumber, in structural applications. In this paper, an approach is developed to abstract and model varied topologies of DLT systems, including systems with continuous, segmented, and hybrid laminations. A mechanical model is developed to evaluate the structural performance of these systems. Experimental testing of prototype DLT slabs is conducted, and results are compared with the mechanical model. A sensitivity analysis of dowel joint stiffness assumptions is performed. The mechanical model shows promise as a tool for the preliminary design of segmented DLT systems. While results indicate that segmented systems have reduced spanning capacity when compared with systems with continuous laminations, a modest increase in cross-section depth can enable the use of short lengths of lumber that may otherwise become waste. By enabling the use of non-standard lumber lengths, segmented DLT systems can increase the utilization of wood resources in mass timber products.
Reference
Rachel Blowes; Paul Mayencourt; Caitlin Mueller. (2026). Valorizing non-standard lumber in mass timber construction: A mechanical model for the computational design and structural analysis of segmented dowel-laminated timber systems. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.7269058
Explore the literature
Follow references, discover citing works and find related studies.