Extract

Abstract: Cross-laminated timber (CLT) floors made from fibre-managed plantation Eucalyptus nitens (E. nitens) have raised a lot of research interests recently due to their sustainability and higher value than producing woodchips. However, their serviceability performance is not yet fully understood. Investigating vibration behaviour of timber floors is necessary because the inappropriate control of structural vibration would finally lead to human discomfort. In this study, seven CLT samples were analysed, consisting of six E. nitens CLT panels with different structural grades (modulus of elasticity) in each layer, and one spruce CLT with constant structural grade used as a control sample. The vibration performance of all CLT panels were investigated under different scenarios including the utilisation of residential carpet, hardwood overlay and a soundproofing material. A balldropping method was used as an excitation for the vibration test, and an accelerometer was used to collect the acceleration-time data. Calculations of natural frequency and damping ratio were performed by MATLAB. The results have demonstrated the reliable serviceability performance of E. nitens CLT via comparing the vibration properties of spruce CLT. The variations in structural grade within different layers of CLT, as well as the inclusion of carpet, timber overlay and soundproofing material have demonstrated different vibration performance of CLT panels.

Keywords: fibre-managed Eucalyptus nitens; vibration; serviceability performance; hardwood CLT.

PDF

Download