Test series procedures

The tests will be done using a 2000kN load jack. The jack is attached to a steel frame which is
connected to the rigid floor in the lab. The forces applied to the beams are read using a 500kN loadcell.
The loading speed is 1.2 mm/min.

The material used for the tested beams is GL32h with fmk=32 MPa and fvk = 3.5 MPa and fmd = 21 MPa
and fvd=1.8 MPa accounting for bending and shear strength average and design values respectively.

1.a.
Test no. 1.a. is applied on a 4.7 m glulam beam with a section of 80mm x 240mm. This test is repeated
3 times to increase the results accuracy.

This is done in a 4-point bending setup to ensure that the failure zone is in pure bending.

To ensure lateral stability of the beam during the test, vertical steel pieces are connected to the
support as in the detail. Stability calculation according to SIA265 were done showing that no other
lateral supports are needed since the stability criteria is satisfied.
The theoretical shear capacity of the beam is 44.7kN and the bending capacity between 16.1 kNm and
24.5 kNm.

In this setup, the distance from the support point to the first point load is 1.2m. Therefore, to reach
the theoretical moment capacity the shear value is 13.5 kN which is less than 60% of the capacity.

The expected load in the jack is between 27kN and 41kN.

The sensors used:

1- 2 LVDT for the vertical displacement at mid-span located on both sides (to make an average)
2- 2 LVDT at supports – to assess local compression of the fibers – this gives the vertical
displacement at the support (one for each support)

1.b. & 3.
Test no. 1.b. and 3. In a 4-point bending setup.

Each configuration is tested 3 times.

The theoretical shear capacity of the two beams interconnected with timber laths may very between
44.7 kN and 89.4 kN depending on the fact that half of the layers or all of the layers get activated at
failure. Based on the same approach, the bending capacity may vary between 26.7 kNm and 49 kNm.

In this setup, the distance from the support point to the first point load is 1.6m. Therefore, to reach
the theoretical moment capacity the shear value is between 16.7 kN and 30.7 kN which is less than
the shear capacity.
The expected load in the jack has to be between 33.4kN and 61kN.

The sensors:

1- 2 LVDT for vertical displacement at mid-span, on both sides, (to find the average)
2- 2 LVDT at support – to assess local compression of the fibers / vertical displacement
3- 4 LVDT at the steel- timber interface for the test no. 3 to assess the slippage of the glued rods.
4- 2 rotation measuring units at the supports for M-r graph (connection stiffness)

2.a. & 2.b.

Each configuration is tested only once.
The theoretical shear capacity of the two layers, two beams interconnected with timber laths is
between 89.4kN and 158.8 kN and the bending capacity is between 98.1kNm and 196.6kNm.

In this setup, the distance from the support point to the point load is 2.2m. Therefore, to reach the
theoretical moment capacity the shear value lays between 44.6kN and 89.3kN which is less than 50%
of the capacity.
The expected load in the jack is between 89kN and 159kN.

The sensors:

1- 2 LVDT for vertical displacement at mid-span

2- 2 LVDT at support – to assess local compression of the fibers/ vertical displacement
3- 4 LVDT at the interface between the two layers at the support to measure the shear
deformation (activation of the plates)

4.a. & 4.b.

The 4.a configuration will be tested 2 times, and 4.b one time. For the 4.a one of the tests will be in 4
steps, load-unload up to 60% moment capacity then it will be loaded to failure.
The theoretical shear capacity of two beams interconnected with timber laths is between 44.7kN and
89.4kN and the theoretical bending capacity of two layers is between 98.2 and 196.6 kNm.

In this setup, the distance from the support point to the point load is 2.2 m. Therefore, to reach the
theoretical moment capacity the shear value is between 44.7 and 89.4 kN which is equal to the shear
capacity.
In this case the shear failure might appear before the bending failure.

Since there is no vertical connection in the test 4.b the expected moment capacity is reduced to a
value similar to the test 3. Two more LVDT sensor should be added in between the two layers to
measure the “uplift effect”.

For the 4.a. configuration the real shear capacity will be assessed during the test based on the failure
type and load.

The expected load in the jack has to be between 89kN and 159kN.

The sensors:

1- 2 LVDT at mid-span.
2- 2 LVDT at support – to assess local compression of the fibers
3- 4 LVDT at the steel- timber interface to assess the slippage of the glued rods.
4- 2 rotation measuring units at the support for M-r graphs (connection stiffness)
5- 2 LVDT at mid span to measure the uplift between the layers for test 4.b

5.
From the already tested elements three specimens will be cut out and tested to determine the real
shear capacity of the interconnected glulam beams.
The shear capacity of one layer with two beams lays between 44.7kN and 89.4kN.

The expected load in the jack falls between 89kN and 159kN.

Time planning

Total
Test No. of Time for one element Total
days
name elements setup and testing [days] [days]
/test
1.a 3 0.5 1.5 9
1.b 3 0.5 1.5
2.a 1 0.75 0.75
2.b 1 0.75 0.75
3 3 0.6 1.8
4.a 2 0.6 1.2
4.b 1 0.6 0.6
5 3 0.3 0.9