Board width-to-thickness ratios in non-edge-glued cross laminated timber (CLT) panels influence the in-plane shear stiffness of the panel. The objective is to show the impact of board width-to-thickness ratios for 3- and 5-layer CLT panels. Shear stiffnesses were calculated using finite element analysis and are shown as reduction factors relative to the shear stiffnesses of edge-glued CLT panels. Board width-to-thickness ratios were independently varied for outer and inner layers. Results show that the reduction factor lies in the interval of 0.6 to 0.9 for most width-to-thickness ratios. Results show also that using boards with low width-to-thickness ratios give low reduction factors. The calculated result differed by 2.9% compared to existing experimental data.

Currently, no appropriate standard exists that describes how to determine the in-plane shear stiffness for cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, meaning that, there is a lack of appropriate and reliable test methods. In this paper, two gross shear test methods are evaluated: a picture frame test and a diagonal compression test, which are intended to measure the shear stiffness of a whole CLT panel. This evaluation aimed to compare the shear modulus, the amount of compression/tension in the diagonal directions of the panels and the deformations of both sides of the panels. The picture frame test and diagonal compression test provides a bi- and uniaxial pre-stress, respectively. A total of 30 non-edge glued CLT panels were tested, 17 3-layer and 13 5-layer panels. The shear modulus for the 3- and 5-layer non-edge-glued panels were measured as 418 and 466 MPa, respectively, in the picture frame test. In the diagonal compression test, the shear modulus was measured to substantially higher values of 530 and 626 MPa for the 3- and 5-layer panels, respectively. In the picture frame test, panels were equally stretched along one of the diagonals as they were compressed along the other diagonal, which was not the case for panels in the diagonal compression test. The test results also showed that measuring only one side incurs a risk of over- or under-estimating the in-plane shear modulus. Compared with results from the literature, the picture frame test seems to be a more reliable test method than the diagonal compression test.

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is an engineered wood material that is used in the construction industry, e.g., for floors, walls, and beams. In cases where CLT-elements are used as shear walls, the in-plane-stiffness is an important property. For non-edge glued CLT, in-plane shear stiffness is lower than for edge-glued CLT. To evaluate the non-edge glued CLT panel’s in-plane shear modulus, the diagonal compression test and finite element (FE) simulation was used. FE-models with both isotropic and orthotropic material models were used to calculate the shear stiffness. The FE models using pure shear loads were used as a reference to determine the correct value of the shear modulus. To verify the FE simulations, diagonal compression tests were conducted on 30 CLT samples. A calibration formula was derived using the least square method for calculation of shear modulus. The formula gave accurate results. The results showed that FE simulations can reproduce the same shear stiffness as tests of non-edge glued 3-layer and 5-layer CLT panels.

Determining the mechanical properties of cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels is an important issue. A property that is particularly important for CLT used as shear walls in buildings is the in-plane shear modulus. In this study, a method to determine the in-plane shear modulus of 3- and 5-layer CLT panels was developed based on picture frame tests and a correction factor evaluated from finite element simulations. The picture frame test is a biaxial test where a panel is simultaneously compressed and tensioned. Two different testing methods are simulated by finite elements: theoretical pure shear models as a reference cases and picture frame models to simulate the picture frame test setup. An equation for calculating the shear modulus from the measured shear stiffnesses in the picture frame tests is developed by comparisons between tests and finite element simulations of the CLT panels. The results show that pure shear conditions are achieved in the central region of the panels. No influence from the size of the tested panels is observed in the finite element simulations.

The use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in constructing tall buildings has increased. So, it has become crucial to get a higher in-plane stiffness in CLT panels. One way of increasing the shear modulus, G, for CLT panels can be by alternating the layers to other angles than the traditional 0° and 90°. The diagonal compression test can be used to measure the shear stiffness from which G is calculated. A general equation for calculating the G value for the CLT panels tested in the diagonal compression test was established and verified by tests, finite element simulations and external data. The equation was created from finite element simulations of full-scale CLT walls. By this equation, the influence on the G value was a factor of 2.8 and 2.0 by alternating the main laminate direction of the mid layer from the traditional 90° to 45° and 30°, respectively. From practical tests, these increases were measured to 2.9 and 1.8, respectively. Another influence on the G value was studied by the reduction of the glue area between the layers. It was shown that the pattern of the contact area was more important than the size of the contact area.

To learn the characteristics of a cross-laminated timber (CLT) panel, it is crucial to perform experimental tests. This study presents two experimental test methods to measure the in-plane shear modulus of CLT panels. This characteristic can be measured by multiple methods such as the picture frame test, the diagonal compression test, and the diaphragm shear test. In this study, the same CLT panels are tested and evaluated in the diaphragm shear test and the diagonal compression test to see if more reliable results can be achieved from the diaphragm shear test. This evaluation is done by experimental tests and finite element simulations. The theoretical pure shear simulation is used as a reference case. Finite element simulations are made for both edge glued and non-edge glued CLT panels. Nine CLT panels are tested in the diaphragm shear test and the diagonal compression test. During ideal conditions (uniform material properties and contact conditions), all three simulated methods result in an almost equal shear modulus. During the experimental testing, the diagonal compression test gives more coherent results with the expected shear modulus based on finite element simulations. Based on the diaphragm shear test results, the CLT panels behave like edge glued, but this situation is dismissed. However, during ideal conditions, the diaphragm shear test is seen as a more reliable method due to the higher proportion of shear in the measured area.