Glulam Houses in Extreme Weather Conditions
Glulam is an increasingly popular building material in remote and northern regions due to its strength, stability, and durability. However, structures made from glulam must withstand different loads conditions and climate effects – including high strain rates and cold temperatures – without fail.
Full-scale experimental testing was performed to explore the impact and static responses of glulam members in cold environments, with results showing significant influences from loading regime and temperature on key design parameters.
Temperature
Glulam is an innovative construction material, providing greater strength and stiffness than comparably sized dimensional lumber, while being stronger pound for pound than steel. Positioned as an economical high-strength alternative to concrete and steel structures, glulam is used in numerous types of structures ranging from vaulted ceilings or open spaces to purlins, ridge beams, garage door headers and floor beams – it even serves as the primary support structure for bridges and elevated pedestrian walkways throughout B.C.
Contrary to conventional solid-wood buildings, glulam’s structural members can be bent or tapered into unique shapes for limitless design possibilities. Their aesthetic features add warmth and character to a space, making glulam a popular choice for wedding chapels and ballrooms.
Exposed glulam not only boasts an eye-catching aesthetic, it is also highly durable and straightforward to maintain. In contrast to materials requiring frequent painting, sealing or repair needs – such as wood – properly maintained glulam buildings have the ability to last decades-if not centuries without showing significant signs of wear and tear.
Glulam members feature interlocked laminations that provide superior lateral and longitudinal strength, meaning less likely to buckle or collapse under pressure compared to individual timber pieces. As such, they make an ideal material choice for long-span bridges and high-rise buildings.
As glulam is made from seasoned wood, its manufacturing is less susceptible to humidity fluctuations that would normally lead to swelling or, in extreme cases, delamination in conventional timber products. Furthermore, most designs for glulam members include various forms of lateral bracing including splices and shear connectors to maximize structural capacity while retaining their desired form and appearance.
Glulam is extremely fireproof due to the protective charring layer forming an outer protective shell around its perimeter, providing an additional shield from flames and embers. Due to this unique property and many others, glulam makes an ideal material choice for commercial and residential buildings alike, while offering superior lifespan compared to more traditional building materials.
Wind
Glulam is an engineered wood beam comprised of laminations glued together with moisture-resistant glues to form an engineered wood member with stress resistance and durability. These laminations have grain that runs parallel with the length of the member; their length determines where their grain runs along its length. Glulam can be found both exposed and hidden applications within residential, commercial and public buildings – architects often specify it for vaulted ceilings with open spaces while its more common concealed applications such as garage door headers, floor beams or cantilevered members use.
Glulam timber differs from solid sawn timber in that its manufacturing process reduces natural defects within its cross section, thus increasing strength across its entirety. This increased strength results in lower material costs for similar structural capacities while permitting for much larger and longer length members than would otherwise be possible with traditional solid sawn lumber.
As is true of wood products in general, glulam may experience changes in moisture content that lead to expansion and contraction, leading to shrinkage cracks or delamination in extreme cases. To avoid such an outcome, glulam must be properly stored for seasoning purposes based on initial moisture content, storage conditions at distribution yards/job sites/construction schedules as well as local climate factors.
For structural purposes, glulam used for manufacturing purposes must come from manufacturers committed to quality and sustainability. Most APA members must follow stringent quality control programs and use only lumber with known structural capacities.
Glulam’s main advantage lies in its resistance to rot. Therefore, this material has long been utilized in applications where wood has played an essential role:
Glulam’s unique strength and versatility makes it an excellent material choice for projects requiring maximum design flexibility, like architect-designed curved structures that showcase its aesthetic potential. Industrial buildings that require robust yet attractive structures often utilize this material, and glulam bridges and viaducts are popular uses due to its resilience against seismic activity.
Rain
Rain is another element that plays an integral part in wood products, including glulam. Similar to temperature variations, rain can alter moisture content levels seasonally or cause cracking of boards ends (known as checking).
To avoid these effects, glulam should not be exposed directly to weather conditions after delivery and installation. This can be accomplished by carefully managing construction schedules to minimize jobsite storage space usage; protecting glulam using tarpaulins draped over clean battens for ventilation purposes; as well as placing protective tarps over battens placed over clean surfaces to reduce risk of microbial growth.
Prior to using glulam, it is vitally important to check surface moisture content and use wide and clean straps during crane lifts. Furthermore, when exposed directly to sunlight it should be stored under shade in order to minimise surface warming and increase the chances of wood remaining cool enough for expansion/contraction without leading to damage. Therefore tarps should always be used when storing glulam on site for extended periods – it should ideally be waterproof/water resistant while allowing air circulation underneath it.
Snow
Glulam’s strength and versatility makes it an ideal material for structures requiring long-spanning, load-bearing elements. Pound for pound, it boasts greater strength and stiffness than comparable sized dimensional lumber – making glulam an innovative construction product used everywhere from residential homes purlins and ridge beams to arched domed roofs that span 500 feet or more!
Glulam is produced by laminating kiln-dried, stress-tested lumber with weatherproof adhesives to form laminated structures that meet various project needs. Depending on the project requirements, glued-laminated timber may be fabricated into straight, curved or tapered designs depending on how its manufacturing process goes; additionally, its manufacturing provides for exceptional structural consistency under extreme loading conditions – an important consideration in many applications where shape stability must be preserved under severe loads.
While glulam is an extremely durable building material, its wood component still requires moisture for expansion and contraction due to different humidity levels. Movement in moisture levels within wood may result in cracking or even delamination if installed in an environment with consistent moisture levels. To avoid such issues, glulam must be placed in an environment with constant moisture levels for installation.
One way to protect a glulam house from excess moisture in the air is to install an air barrier around its exterior walls. However, in high-traffic areas or near large bodies of water this might not be practical; in these instances a waterproof vapor barrier might be more appropriate as a measure to keep moisture at bay from entering homes or offices.
As well as installing a waterproof vapor barrier, glulam houses in cold climates should also incorporate a moisture control system to regulate moisture within their home, keeping it dry in warm weather and providing adequate protection from moisture in colder months. This system helps regulate humidity throughout, keeping temperatures comfortable throughout.
Glulam wedding chapels have become increasingly popular due to its beauty and strength. Their distinctive architectural look adds an elegant touch that elevates any special day, while their sturdy structures provide unobstructed views for guests. Furthermore, exposed wood beams can be customized into decorative shapes or designs to further increase aesthetics of this structure. However, it is crucial that users understand how Glulam wood products react when exposed to extreme winter conditions.