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Comparison of creep/duration of load performance in bending of Parallam® parallel strand lumber to machine stress rated lumber

University of British Columbia

A comparison of the creep/duration of load (DOL) performance of a new structural wood composite material called Parallam® parallel strand lumber (PSL) to two grades of machine-stress-rated (HSR) Douglas-fir lumber is presented in this thesis. Evaluation of the creep/DOL performance was made on nominal 2x4 members under constant bending stress at three stress levels. A total of 306 test specimens were evaluated for a 15-1/2 month time period. The analysis suggests that the duration of load effect for Parallam PSL was consistent with the Madison curve for the time period studied while the MSR Douglas-fir lumber was consistent with recent duration of load models developed for structural lumber. The analysis also indicates that the current duration of load adjustment factors can be applied to develop working stresses for Parallam. The creep behaviour of the Parallam PSL was found to be equivalent or better than the two MSR lumber grades under dry-service conditions. Furthermore, evidence of linear viscoelastic behaviour was found for all test materials within the range of applied stresses evaluated. Two mathematical models of creep were fitted to the creep data and compared. A '4-parameter linear viscoelastic' model fitted the creep data better than an empirical 'power curve' model. The model parameters developed provide a basis for estimating the mean creep behaviour and variability in creep response for these materials under in-service load conditions for dry-service environments.

Text

2010-07-07

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/26194

Forestry

University of British Columbia

Graduate