Studying the properties of engineered wood products

Abstract

Glulam and OSB are great building alternatives to typical materials in terms of their strength, aesthetics, and economical nature. North America mostly uses Spruce, Pine, and Fir (SPF) owing to their superior strength characteristics and accessibility. But there is scope for underutilized species like larch, poplar, or birch to be used in Glulam manufacturing and engineered products like OSB. The focus of this thesis is to examine if use of the above-mentioned species will be a good alternative to typical SPF species. It also provides an overview of those species, their general distribution and utilization. The comparison is done based on the physical and mechanical properties of these wood species and the 3 properties MOE (modulus of elasticity), MOR (modulus of rupture) and density. It was found that these species have favourable strength characteristics as compared to spruce and would be beneficial if used in the Glulam industry. This was a preliminary study and if tested on a larger scale with advanced technology, this can help create a more resilient lumber market, diversify Canadian wood business, and increase Glulam industry’s efficiency.