Finite Element Analysis of Composite Laminated Timber (CLT)

Abstract

In the research for sustainable construction, cross-laminated timber (CLT) has gained popularity and become a widely used engineered timber product. However, there are few numerical studies of the structural behaviour of CLT. Among other issues, the orthotropic properties of CLT complicate finite element analysis (FEA). This paper presents a finite element model (FEM) to predict the structural behaviour of CLT beams subjected to sustained flexural loading. This numerical model includes a material model based on the orthotropic material properties of different timber species. Furthermore, the orientation and the properties of each layer are considered. Most of the previous studies simulate CLT beams as a homogeneous material. However, in this work the CLT beam is modelled as a composite material made up of five layers with different orientations and properties. Bonded contacts are used to define the interaction between layers. In addition, nonlinearities, such as large displacement, are used to simulate the behaviour of CLT beams. The model provides the load-displacement relationship and stress concentration. Tsai-Wu failure criteria is used in the simulation to predict the failure modes of the CLT beams studied.

Numerical Modeling of Timber‐steel Hybrid Structures: Challenges and Innovative Strategies

“…The second part is a focus on CLT panels modelling, where orthotropy is established defining 3 elastic moduli, 3 shear moduli and 3 Poisson's ratios associated with material's 3 principal directions for elasticity [12], while plasticity is defined with Hill's anisotropic hardening [15]. The panel is tested under a 3 point bending test.…”

“…The aim of this study is to assess a methodology to numerically investigate steel-timber hybrid beam-to-column joints, with reference to experimental data presented in [9,10,13]; moreover, timber modelling has been treated individually, according to most widespread techniques applied in previous studies [13,14,15,16]. The problem complexity lies mainly in timber orthotropy modelling, interactions between steel and timber, investigation of rope effect [12] and assessment of contacts issues.…”

Near-Surface Mounted Reinforcement of Sawn Timber Beams-FEM Approach

“…Therefore, in some aspects, it is more reliable to analyze composite materials, e.g., CLT, where the influence of knots on the mechanical parameters can be neglected. In the model developed for 5-layer CLT panels, the perfect connection between each layer (without taking into account the adhesive joint) and the constancy of the mechanical parameters over the lamella thickness was assumed [ 8 ]. A similar assumption was made in the analysis of notched connections in a composite system of two materials: timber–concrete (TC system) [ 9 ].…”