Experimental Tests on Timber-to-CrossLam Composite Section Beams

Cross laminated timber panels are generally used to build walls and floor slabs of new wood houses, but they have interesting mechanical characteristics also for strengthening ancient wood floors in restoration interventions. XLam panels can be connected to timber beams to achieve stiffness upgrading and a floor diaphragm effect under seismic actions. First results of a series of tests to determine the panel shear behaviour show high shear resistance and huge potential for this use. Bending tests on timber-to-XLam composite section beams are here described. Experimental data show that an increment of bending stiffness can be achieved. This technique has the advantage to be much more reversible than the refurbishment of existing timber floors using a concrete topping with a steel mesh connected to the timber joists.