High performing rails from CLT panel waste for advanced prefabricated volumetric timber structures

Purpose and goal:

The aim of the project is to contribute to innovative wood products based on residual materials from the production of cross laminated timber (CLT) to become a possible and favorable alternative in advanced industrial built timber houses. The aim is to verify previously carried out short-term tests with respect to mechanical properties, carry out new long-term tests in a laboratory environment and to carry out measurements on buildings where CLT boards are used as rails in the frame.

Expected results and effects:

At the end of the project, there will be a product based on residual materials that were previously used as biomass, which now instead improves the advanced wood construction and the circular bioeconomy. The material properties of the product such as stiffness and strength must be predictable and possible to calculate. The product is primarily used as top and bottom rail in modern prefabricated wooden house construction.

Approach and implementation: The work is divided into five work packages as follows:

1. Product prototypes in operating environment for installation in buildings and measurement of their long term properties. 2. Work on type approval and with supplementary short-term testing. 3. Planning and implementation of long-term tests in a laboratory environment.

4. Development of calculation models and reporting of completed work in scientific contexts as well as in more popular scientific contexts. 5. Reporting of project results and dissemination of knowledge.