This program was done to support the both wək̓ʷan̓əs tə syaqʷəm Elementary School, and Bayview Elementary school projects in using balloon frame CLT as both walls and window headers.

This testing project aimed to quantify the strength of CLT panels in in-plane bending to allow a consistent visual approach for the interior exposed walls, there was interest in using the CLT on edge as a beam-over-window opening and in pushing the boundaries forward in long-span floor and roof construction. The project also aims to understand the impact of eccentric loading and torsion on this implementation of CTL.

Project Essentials

  • LocationEdmonton, AB
  • PartnerDr. Hossein Daneshvar, University of Alberta
  • TypeTesting Program
  • FundingGreen Construction through Wood (GCWood) Low-rise Commercial/Industrial/Office/Institutional

Working with the University of Alberta’s Advanced Research in Timber program, Fast + Epp aimed to complete a series of bending + torsion, and monotonic load tests on 6m long full-scale CLT panels.  Both the strength and stiffness of the panel in bending and rotation/torsion are of interest, as well as failure mechanisms.

This physical testing was completed in late 2020.  The full bending strength of the parallel laminations was reached in the bending test, and failure in rolling shear was observed in the bending + torsion tests. Initial data analysis has provided information for comparison with existing models for bending and torsion in CLT. 

Publications