Comparison Study of Test Protocols for Determining the In-Plane Shear Capacity of Cross Laminated Timer Using Finite Element Analysis Software

摘要

With CLT becoming a more commonly used product, the CLT manufacturing industry will be required to insure the mechanical properties of the product. To do so, testing to ensure the product meets design specifications is required. A finite element model was developed in the attempt to investigate whether CLT shear test specimens for two different test protocol would provide equivalent, reliable results. A phased development of the model was used to ensure the model represented a reliable simulation of CLT products in shear and other mechanical responses. To validate the model, CLT specimens were simulated under various test loading configurations and the results were compared to data of stiffness and shear stress testing that had been performed on physical specimens. The model was used to compare the in-plane shear capacity test protocols of the ANSI/APA PRG 320 (2019) standard and the EN 16351 (2021) standard. This was done to determine whether the protocol of the EN standard would be a suitable alternative to the ANSI/APA standard protocol that has already been established. The model was used to compare between the shear stress distribution, the force required to cause a shear failure, and the locations of the failing cross sections for each of the protocols.