Shear resistance of glulam beams with cracks

Introduction
The new requirement in Eurocode 5 means that a reduction of the shear resistance is introduced. The
aim of this project is to obtain support for the use of a higher value of the crack factor than k cr =0.67
that is recommended in the Eurocode. There is a possibility for a national choice in the Eurocode. The
National Board of Housing in Sweden has been hesitant to raise the value of the recommended 0.67 as
indicated in Eurocode 5. A partial increase of the crack factor may now be underway in Sweden after
discussions and argumentations from the glulam industry. But as the glulam industry has not observed
any shear failures due to cracks with the previously used shear values it is of interest with a deeper
knowledge about cracking in glulam beams, and if there is any reason for different k cr -factors in
different countries.

The purpose of this project is to find out how different crack parameters (location, size, etc.) affect the
shear strength. The project includes tests of a number of glulam beams with cracks to determine the
shear strength and the influence of different types of cracks. It started with a pilot study during 2011
with tests of a number of beams, and the project will continue during 2012. The issue is important
because there is an uncertainty about the effect of cracks on the shear strength, and the new design
requirements of Eurocode 5 can reduce the competitiveness of glulam.

Previous tests performed

There are relatively few reports relevant for the influence of cracks on the shear resistance. But several
tests have been performed with different test methods to determine the shear resistance of glulam, both
the method in the standard EN 408 and methods with beams with different cross-sections and loads.
According to the harmonized standard EN14080 the test method in the standard EN 408 should be
used for determination of the shear resistance. Structural timber is though more appropriate for this
test method than glulam with larger sizes. There can therefore be a size effect for glulam, at least if
one disregards the presence of cracks, which are normally smaller in glulam than in structural timber.
The work performed by Gerhard Schickhofer has been reflected in the standardization work, both in
terms of EC5 and EN 14080. In a first paper in 1998, he presented results of tests with beams with I-
sections. The beams were loaded with a point load at mid span. In another paper in 2001 he reported
results from testing of a total of 96 beams. Klapp and Brüninghoff (2005) have developed a simulation
model and it has demonstrated that there is a volume effect on the shear resistance. Steiger and Gehri
(2011) have studied the interaction between shear stress and tension perpendicular to the fibers and
conducted beam tests using glued bars at supports. Andersson and Odén (2009) determined the shear
strength in different ways with both f the method in EN 408 and with beam tests. Both rectangular
cross sections and I- sections were studied. Gustavsson et al (2009) investigated the shear strength
using a variant of EN 408 with different designs. Sundström et al (2010) studied the effects of
moisture gradients on the shear strength of beams with rectangular cross sections.

Shear tests of glulam beams with cracks

The project started with the pilot study in 2011 which included three-point bending tests of four types
of glulam beams with dimension 115 mm x 315 mm x 2600 mm with different crack depths and
locations. The beams were standard beams taken from the normal production. Five beams of each type
were tested. Also ten beams without cracks were tested. The cracks in three beam types were created
artificially in new glulam beams by sawing grooves at specific depths along the beams. One beam type
had one groove 30 % of the width on one side, another beam type had one groove 15% of the width
on each side, and another beam type had two grooves 30% of the width on one side. The last beam
type was treated with humidification with “rain” and drying with heating lamps in the SP Trätek
laboratory in Skellefteå to generate "natural" cracks in the wood. After that, they were CT-scanned at
LTU (Luleå University of Technology) to document the cracks. All beams were also documented with
dimensions and moisture contents before the shear tests. The beams without cracks got mostly bending
failures and only two beams got a pure shear failure. The characteristic shear strength of all beams was
at least 3.5 MPa. For beam types with grooves the characteristic values were 2.25-3.18 MPa if the
shear resistance was calculated from the entire cross section 115 mm x 315 mm. If instead a reduced
cross section 80.5 mm x 315 mm was used, the shear stress was 3.24-4.58 MPa. This implies that a
reduced cross section should be used for beams with cut grooves. The shear failures followed most
often the growth rings in the lamellas where the grooves were, only at some points it continued to an
adjacent lamella. For the beam type with the "natural" cracks 4 out of 5 beams got shear failures, and
this was a difference compared to the beams without cracks. This could mean that the cracks have had
some impact on the shear resistance. End-cracking occurred, and stretched at most about 70 mm from
the end. The “natural cracks” had a depth of at most 30 mm, and a length of at most 500 mm, located
at various positions in height and length. The largest natural cracks occurred mainly in tangential
surfaces in lamellas with pith but these cracks did not cause shear failure. Cracks also occurred along
the gluelines, especially if there were no tangential surfaces, and these cracks could cause failure.

The continuation of the project in 2012 will include testing of beams with cracks produced by
humidification and drying to lower moisture contents corresponding to very dry indoor climate, to
meet the actual conditions that may occur during construction. The glulam beams will have the same
dimensions as in the pilot study, with dimensions 115 mm x 315 mm x 2600 mm, and also
complemented with beams with surface treatment, and also a group of wider beams 165 mm x 315
mm x 2600 mm. The beams will be measured and documented, moisture contents will be measured,
and CT-scanning of the beams will be performed before shear tests. Calculations will be made of
characteristic shear strength, differences between the beam types and size and amount of cracks. The
result will be presented in the summer 2012.

References
EN 14080:2005 Timber structures – Glued laminated timber - Requirements
EN 1194:1999 Timber structures – Glued laminated timber – Strength classes and determination of characteristic
values
EN 408:2010 Timber structures – Structural timber and glued laminated timber – Determination of some
physical and mechanical properties
Andersson, D. och Odén, J.: Träs skjuvhållfasthet och limträbalkars skjuvkapacitet – provningar och
beräkningar. Examensarbete, Lunds tekniska högskola, avdelning Bärande konstruktioner. Lund 2009.
Gustavsson, P-J , Emilsson, A. Crocetti, R. och Ormarsson, S.: Provningar av limträs skjuvhållfasthet. Lunds
tekniska högskola, Avdelning för Bärande konstruktioner. Lund 2009.
Johansson, C.-J., Boström, L., Bräuner, L., Hoffmeyer, P., Holmqvist, C. and Solli, K. H.: Laminations for glued
laminated timber – Establishment of strength classes for visual strength grades and machine settings for glulam
laminations of Nordic origin. Swedish national testing and research institute. SP Report 1998:38.
Klapp, H. – Brüninghoff, H.: Shear strength of glued laminated timber. CIB –W18 – Timber structures. Paper
W18/38-6-3 Meeting 38 in Karlsruhe, Germany 2005.
Schickhofer, G. and Obermayr, B.: Development of an optimized test configuration to determine shear strength
of glued laminated timber. CIB –W18, Paper W18/31-21-1. Meeting 31, Savonlinna, Finland, 1998.
Schickhofer, G.: Determination of shear strength values for GLT using visual and machine graded spruce
laminations. CIB –W18, Paper W18/34-12-6. Meeting 34, Venice, Italy, 2001.
Steiger, R. – Gehri, E.: Interaction of shear streses and stresses perpendicular to the grain. CIB –W18, Paper
W18/44-6-2 Meeting 44, Alghero, Italy, 2011.
Sundström, T., Kevarinmäki, A., Fortina, S. och Toratti, T.: Shear resistance of glulam beams under varying
humidity conditions. VTT Working Paper 157. VTT. Espo 2010.