Analysis of normal and shear stresses and vertical displacements in cross-laminated timber panels through plate theories, numerical and simplified methods

Abstract

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a product used in the form of panels that presents as a challenge the simultaneous consideration of the orthogonal arrangement of lamellae with the orthotropic behaviour of wood. In order to evaluate the mechanical behaviour of CLT panels in bending, it is possible to resort to plate theories, numerical and simplified methods. Within this context, this paper proposed to analyse the normal and shear stresses, as well the vertical displacements in a given CLT panel through three plate theories, three simplified methods, Finite Element Method and a proposed analytical method. For the study, a five-layered CLT panel with lamellae thickness of 20 mm, at first, with sides of 3 m. Afterward, parametric variations of the ratio between spans were also stipulated. The structural analysis permitted to obtain the stresses and the vertical displacements for the aforementioned panel. The parametric variations carried out made it possible to verify the sensitivity of the proposed panel in terms of stresses and vertical displacements against variations in the ratio between the panel’s plan dimensions.