Advances in reinforcing of cross laminated timber panels

The present paper shows the first results of an ongoing research aimed at studying the mechanical performance of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) reinforced with natural fibers and steel bars. A bending test program has been carried out on several CLT panels reinforced by applying natural fibers or steel bars to the intrados of the panel. Preliminary results show that there is a significant increment of load-carrying capacity and stiffness in both of reinforcement typologies. The proposed technique allows a straightforward application of the reinforcement at the intrados of the panel ensuring an increasing of its capacity and stiffness. The matching between experimental results and an analytical model specifically developed has been analysed and discussed, together with the failure mechanisms associated with the collapse of the reinforced elements.