Bending Properties of Connections in Cross Laminated Timber

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is a class of plywood-like Engineered Wood Product (EWP) available in large thicknesses that are used mainly to create floor and wall slabs. This paper addresses performance of CLT panel edge-to-edge connections subjected to bending moments created by out of-plane forces on floors or walls constructed from CLT panels of discrete width (circa 2 to 5m). Two types of connections employing self-tapping screws, half-lapped and single-spline, are investigated because they are compact and limit material wastage, and facilitate on-site construction operations. This study also investigates how placing washers under screw heads alters the strength and stiffness of studied connections.