2026-10-06T05:17:07Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34074613 2026-10-05T18:31:04Z category_734 portal_87 item_type_3 month_year_10_2026

Effect of transverse-layer edge gaps on damage accumulation and long-term duration-of-load bending behavior of fast-growing fir cross-laminated timber Qianzhi Huang (14608041) Zhiqiang Wang (48987) Rongbao Wu (25317499) Wei Zheng (25452) Meng Gong (5170457) Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Chinese fir CLT mechanical properties EWPs DOL effect survival analysis <p>To reduce product cost and deformation, transverse-layer edge gaps are commonly introduced in cross-laminated timber (CLT), but their influence on long-term mechanical performance remains unclear. This study investigated fast-growing fir CLT specimens with 0 and 6 mm transverse-layer edge gaps through short-term bending and duration-of-load (DOL) tests. Based on experimental results, DOL factors were further predicted, and survival analysis was conducted. Short-term tests showed that edge gaps slightly reduced bending performance, with the average modulus of elasticity, ultimate capacity, and bending strength decreasing by 5.2%, 5.0%, and 4.8%, respectively. Compared with short-term tests, DOL tests produced more severe crack propagation and damage accumulation. At identical load levels, gap-free specimens showed 15.7–40.9 times longer failure time than specimens with 6 mm gaps, resulting in a DOL factor over 14.3% higher after 50 years. Survival analysis revealed that gap-free CLT specimens exhibited time-dependent accumulation failure behavior under 70% load levels. While under 75–85% load levels, failure was dominated by early-stage failure. Overall, transverse-layer edge gaps had limited effects on short-term bending strength but significantly reduced long-term DOL performance of CLT. These findings provide insights into optimizing CLT manufacturing parameters for improved long-term structural performance.</p> 2026-10-05T18:31:04Z Dataset Dataset 10.6084/m9.figshare.34074613.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Effect_of_transverse-layer_edge_gaps_on_damage_accumulation_and_long-term_duration-of-load_bending_behavior_of_fast-growing_fir_cross-laminated_timber/34074613 CC BY 4.0