Experimental study on flexural performance of poplar glued-laminated timber constructed by mechanical fastener and comparing them with those made with cold press

In this study, modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of glued-laminated timber (Glulam) made out of poplar (Populus alba) with galvanized steel nail, brad strip nail, coarse thread drywall screw for applying pressure were investigated and compared with those constructed with cold press. Amount of polyurethane adhesive was 300 g/m2. Thickness, width and span of 3-ply glulam specimens were 57, 80 and 640 mm, respectively. Static bending test was performed according to ASTM D 7341 by Instron testing machine. The results showed that the higher MOR and MOE were related to Glulam connected by 4 screws on 8×8 cm2 with adhesive (69.3 MPa), and those connected by 2 galvanized steel nail with adhesive (6737.7 MPa), respectively. The results also revealed that the lower MOR and MOE were both observed in Glulam connected by 2 brad strip nail without any adhesive (23.9 and 1252.7 MPa, respectively). The results showed that MOR and MOE of glulam were changed with the independent variation of number of fastener 3.7 and ˂1%, respectively. The higher variation was related to independent effect of adhesive (130 and 317.8% for MOR and MOE, respectively). Analysis of variance indicated that only the independent effect of adhesive application was only statistically significant at 95% confidence level. The comparison of MOR and MOE of Glulam made with two fasteners with those constructed by cold press showed that there was not significant difference between them. So, the use of galvanized steel nail, brad strip nail, coarse thread drywall screw for applying pressure to manufacture Glulam instead of cold press is possible and the best item was brad strip nail due to easy application and installation by pneumatic nailer and low cost.