Strengthening cross-laminated timber with CFRP for structural reuse

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Abstract

According to the UN Environment Programme, 34% of global CO 2 emissions and 32% of energy use are attributable to the construction sector, making it a significant contributor to climate change. Greenhouse emissions are caused by operational carbon emissions from energy use during the service life of a building and embodied carbon emissions in the building materials used for construction. Although operational emissions have decreased, further advancements are required in the form of sustainable materials and strengthening techniques to prolong the service life of existing structures and to allow structural reuse. Mass timber products, such as glued-laminated timber (glulam) and cross-laminated timber (CLT), are low-carbon alternatives to steel and concrete. Although carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthening has been thoroughly researched for conventional building materials such as concrete, its application to mass timber products remains largely unexplored, highlighting the need for further research. This study investigates the application of CFRP sheets for strengthening damaged cross-laminated timber beams experimentally. A comparison between the strengthened damaged beams and intact specimens demonstrates the effectiveness of this method, as the strengthened beams exhibited comparable peak loads and stiffness, higher deflections at peak load, and, in some cases, increased ultimate load capacity. These findings offer insights into the strengthening effect of CFRP retrofits and support the design of mass timber structures for the circular economy.

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