The Effect of Type of Reinforcement, Type of Glue and Reinforcement Place on Mechanical and Physical Properties of LVL

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of the reinforcement type, glue type, and reinforcement placement on the mechanical and physical properties of LVL. In the study, the glues used were phenol- formaldehyde (FF), epoxy (EX), and polyurethane (PU), while reinforcement materials used were glass fiber, basalt, jute, and cotton fabric. The following three reinforcement combinations were applied: the first was on the bottom surface, the second was on the first adhesive line at the bottom, and the third was on both the bottom and the first adhesive line at the bottom. As part of the study, researchers manufactured 9-layer laminated veneer lumber (LVL) using alder veneers for the surface, and poplar veneers for the middle layers. They produced a total of 39 different combinations of LVL. The mechanical and physical properties of the produced samples were determined. According to the test results, bending strength (BS), modulus of elasticity (MOE), oven-dry specific gravity, and equilibrium moisture content of samples were higher with FF than with other glues. While the samples with EX glue provided the lowest values in water absorption and thickness swelling tests, glass fiber-reinforced samples provided the highest mechanical values. In addition, the samples having reinforcement on the bottom surface provided higher BS and MOE values.