Akbar Rostampour Haftkhani - Assistant prof. of Wood Science and Technology, department of natural resources, Faculty of agriculture and natural resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

Fast-growing tree species such as poplar have a key role for supplying raw materials in wood industries, which prevent depletion of natural resources. Therefore, feasibility of constructing cross laminated timber from a fast growing tree such as poplar was studied in this study. Bending performance of CLT panel was measured according to ASTM D۴۷۶۱. The results showed that the highest modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity was ۳۳.۳۶ and ۳۶۱۸ MPa. Since poplar is a low density wood thereby the bending strength of CLT was not meet the requirement of the ANSI/APA PRG ۳۲۰ standard. Therefore, the CLT was reinforced to improve their flexural performance. The reinforcement of CLT by aluminum sheet and glass fiber reinforcement polymer (GFRP) wrap. The results showed that modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity of the CLT panel reinforced by aluminum sheet increased to ۶۳.۱۵ and ۵۴۵۴ MPa. Furthermore, MOR and MOE of CLT reinforced by GFRP increased to ۴۸.۷۳ and ۴۰۷۸ MPa.MOR and MOE of the CLT panel in minor strength axis was ۹.۲۹ and ۷۸۱.۷ MPa, respectively. MOR and MOE were increased to ۲۷.۴۱ and ۳۴۷۵ MPa, respectively in minor axis of CLT reinforced by aluminum sheet. MOR and MOE in minor axis of CLT panel reinforced by GFRP were increased to ۱۳.۲۶ and ۹۴۸ MPa. The flexural strength of reinforced CLT panel was comparable to the standard values.

cross laminated timber, GFRP wrap, aluminum sheet, reinforcement, bending strength.