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Forest Products Laboratory
One Gifford Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53726-2398
Phone: (608) 231-9200
Fax: (608) 231-9592
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Monitoring Moisture Levels in Mass Timber Buildings

Building under construction featuring glue-laminated timber columns and beams and cross-laminated timber floors. Colorado School of Mines
Building under construction featuring glue-laminated timber columns and beams and cross-laminated timber floors. Colorado School of Mines
Snapshot: Detailed measurements on moisture levels in mass timber buildings in the United States are scarce. Researchers are working with Colorado School of Mines to monitor conditions in mass timber buildings in three different U.S. climates.
Summary:

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a prefabricated mass timber building material that has the potential to expand the wood building market. While considerable research has been directed at CLT building system structural and fire behavior, little is known about the moisture conditions in CLT buildings during the construction process and in service. In order to better understand these conditions, FPL researchers have teamed up with researchers from Colorado School of Mines and installed wireless sensors in mass timber buildings located in three different U.S. climates. In addition to long-term monitoring, the team has measured the relevant material properties of CLT and developed wetting and drying experiments in the laboratory. These on-site and laboratory measurements have led to more accurate computer simulations that can predict moisture conditions in mass timber buildings. These results will improve the confidence of architects and engineers in designing mass timber buildings for moisture durability.		Princpal Investigator(s):
 Zelinka, Samuel L.
 Glass, Samuel V.


External Partners:
  • Colorado School of Mines

Fiscal Year: 2019
Highlight ID: 1330
 
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