Facts about the project
Project manager
Thomas Bader
Other project members
Michael Schweigler Eva Binder
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University, Department of Civil Engineering at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Financier
Södras Stiftelse för Forskning, Utveckling och Utbildning
Timetable
April 2022 - Mars 2024
Subject
Wood construction technology, Department of Construction Technology, Faculty of Technology
Research group
Wood Building Technology
More about the project
During the last decade, several engineered hardwood-based products (EWPs) have been developed in Central Europe (e.g. beech, birch and oak glulam, birch CLT or beech LVL). These products have improved properties, with a higher load bearing capacity, compared to corresponding softwood products. However, hardwoods also have disadvantages that still hamper their use in the building sector, as for example increased shrinkage and swelling compared to softwoods. The long-term behavior of hardwoods in combination with the influence of moisture changes has not been investigated in detail up to now.
This project aims at testing the long-term load bearing capacity and deformations of birch and beech wood, which are representative for the life time of buildings, as compared to the short-term behavior often tested in laboratories. Material properties that are important for the production and design of cross-laminated timber will be studied.
Joining forces between the academic partners Linnaeus University and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology increases possibilities for testing and moreover, through collaboration with the industry will lead to a knowledge transfer and exchange as regards the development, production and testing of hardwood products for engineering applications. Through enhanced knowledge of the material behavior that can be used for a more reliable design, more hardwood can be used in load-bearing structures. The project results will support the use of hardwood from the southern Swedish Forests to produce high added-value and competitive construction products.
The project is part of the research in the research group Wood Building Technology.