Evaluation of bending and shear properties of mixed softwood & hardwood cross-laminated timbers

Abstract

The current version of PRG-320 (CLT) that governs CLT manufacturing and design, limits production to softwood species. As a result, the growing demand for CLT production could strain the supply of softwood lumber in the US within the next decade. The inclusion of hardwood in CLT production alongside softwood could be a potential solution to this problem. This paper investigates the bending and shear test results of three- and five-layer mixed species CLT beams manufactured using various combinations of yellow-poplar and southern pine. The beams were evaluated for bending strength, bending stiffness, shear strength, and shear stiffness, as well as quality control testing of moisture content, specific gravity, resistance to shear by compression loading and resistance to delamination. The experimental values for all CLT groups, adjusted according to the Allowable Stress Design (ASD) to ensure stress limits are not exceeded, were greater than those calculated using the shear analogy method. The only exceptions were bending stiffness values for the groups with all layers of southern pine and those with outer layers of southern pine and inner layers of yellow-poplar (see Table 1 for layups codes), where the differences remained within a minor range of 4 %. Although, wood failure percentages in resistance to shear by compression loading fell below the maximum value of 80 %, and face delamination percentages in resistance to delamination were above the minimum value of 5 % according to the corresponding standards. The mechanical properties of all CLT beams met or exceeded shear analogy values. The test results indicated that yellow-poplar could be a viable alternative to southern pine in the production of CLT due to its similar specific gravity. This suggests that mixed-species CLT can maintain or enhance structural performance while addressing material shortages. Furthermore, the use of yellow-poplar in CLT production promotes sustainable forestry practices, supports resource diversification, and encourages innovation in construction methods. These findings have significant practical implications for the timber and construction industries, contributing to cost efficiency and environmental sustainability.