Moisture dynamics of Cross-Laminated Timber: impact of the adhesive layer and crosswise placement of laminations

The use in building construction of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels is no longer an innovation but a commonly used alternative to concrete and brick. Nonetheless, there is a lack of clear requirements for moisture safety in the construction of CLT buildings. A reliable, sustainable, and durable application of CLT in building construction requires fundamental research on moisture transport in CLT. Currently, moisture in CLT is commonly identified much with moisture in wood and characteristics such as the adhesive layer and the crosswise placement has not been considered. The main goal of this project is to determine the moisture transport in CLT panels and the interrelationships of water vapour and liquid conductivity functions. The project includes three work packages: WP1- literature review; WP2- laboratory experiments where material properties of CLT are found and; WP3- Derivation of moisture conductivity functions of CLT from measurements.