Blast tests on three existing two-story, single-bay cross-laminated timber (CLT) structures at Tyndall Air Force Base were successful, according to WoodWorks, a program working with the Wood Products Council.
“On-site observations were decidedly positive; all structures remained intact under significant explosive loading well beyond their design capacity,” according to a council news release. This was the second phase of blast testing on CLT structures conducted by WoodWorks.
“Last year, we tested the structures under their own self-weight,” said Bill Parsons, vice president of operations for WoodWorks. “Those tests were successful and, this year, we built on that effort by testing whether the design methods established as a result of those initial tests needed to be adjusted when the buildings carried typical gravity loads and included different connection configurations, increased panel thickness, and alternate mass timber wall systems.”
One building used 5-ply CLT front wall panels, the second used off-the-shelf prefabricated angle brackets, and the third included nail-laminated timber (NLT) front panels. All three structures remained standing following the fourth and largest blast, intended to take the structures well beyond their design intent. While panel rupture was observed on all front and side wall panels, the buildings maintained enough residual capacity to remain intact and safe to enter, the release says.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Nov 15, 2018
New versions of DOE’s EnergyPlus engine and the OpenStudio software development kit released
New offerings resolve over 70 bugs and offer new features.
Codes and Standards | Nov 14, 2018
Obsolete safety standards may have been used in cleanup of former naval shipyard
San Francisco redevelopment site work may have been racked by fraud.
Codes and Standards | Nov 13, 2018
New York City’s new construction safety requirements are delayed
Some contractors say they weren’t ready for ‘massive initiative’.
Codes and Standards | Nov 9, 2018
Cities have multiple strategies to reduce parking requirements
Each community has to find its own mix of solutions.
Codes and Standards | Nov 8, 2018
Denver replaces green roof mandate with cool roof option
Less costly light-colored roofs can cut project costs by about 1.5%.
Codes and Standards | Nov 7, 2018
New report addresses sound transmission of wood-framed assemblies
AWC document provides empirical sound transmission model.
Codes and Standards | Nov 6, 2018
AIA releases 13 new and updated contract documents
Includes new Contractor-Subcontractor Master Agreement.
Codes and Standards | Nov 2, 2018
New Milwaukee Bucks home called world’s first bird-friendly sports arena
Design will make bird collisions less likely.
Codes and Standards | Nov 1, 2018
Several barriers holding back widespread construction of zero energy buildings
Code improvements and voluntary programs could add momentum.
Codes and Standards | Oct 31, 2018
Boston’s new flood protection plan centers on new parks
Initiative would add 67 acres of public open space.