Large Scale Research into Durability of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) Connections

Moisture management plays an essential role in the serviceability and preservation of buildings, particularly when considering wooden structures. This is because wood’s durability can be compromised by the sustained presence of liquid water, while large moisture fluctuations can also impact dimensional stability and mechanical performance. Like any material, wooden structures perform excellently when designed and maintained properly, with many examples that have stood the test of time and lasted centuries (e.g., the Horyu-ji temple in Japan, stave churches in Norway, etc.). While moisture management principles are generally well understood for light frame construction, there are still many questions to be answered regarding moisture performance of large scale, “mass timber” structures, including how fast they wet and dry and how exposure affects long term durability. …