Structural analysis methods for CLT-beams

Abstract

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) panel has established its usage as an engineering wood product in various industrial wood constructions. CLT is used in residential buildings, offices and other public buildings, especially as load-carrying structure for walls and floors and as part of the whole building's stiffening system. From a technical point of view, the most challenging applications of CLT are floor structures, in which the layered cross-section together with orthotropic wood material properties complicates the structural design substantially. This article examines the theoretical basis of the most common structural analysis methods for CLT structures subjected to out-of-plane bending and compares the accuracy and usage of these methods.