There is an acute need for research to develop value-added applications for wood and wood products such as Cross-Laminated-Timber (CLT). One prominent target area are mid- and high-rise structures. In seismic regions, such as Western Canada, connectors must provide ductility to otherwise rigid building systems composed of CLT panels. There are a number of options […]

Nowadays, massive timber floor/roof systems are designed by a simplified approach that treats the floor/roof and the supporting beams separately, thus ignoring the composite action between these two elements. Including the composite action in the calculations has the potential to increase the stiffness of the systems and to make their design more competitive and cost-effective. […]

Self-tapping screws (STS), when compared to traditional wood screws, are longer and have improved thread geometry, and are made of hardened steel which increases their axial, bending, torsional, and most importantly also their withdrawal capacity. The use of STS in connection assemblies, however, is not standardized and their advantageous performance when implemented at an angle […]

With a growing concern to reduce carbon emissions, timber construction has is experiences a rebirth in Canada and abroad. The availably of engineered wood products, innovations in manufacturing, and changes in the building codes are some incentives for timber becoming a materials choice. Connecting these large timber members is done efficiently with the help of […]