Development of cross laminated timber composite panels from C16 timber

It was necessary to develop a drying regime for rapid growing Sitka Spruce harvested in Ireland bringing it to a moisture content of 12%, not normally carried out on Irish timber. Reinforcing materials used were glass fibre mat and steel rebar.

The panels were tested in four-point bending tests to determine how panel dimensions affect the panel stiffness and additionally, how the presence of reinforcement affects the stiffness.