laminated veneer lumber (lvl)

[massmanute]

I am wondering about laminated veneer lumber (LVL) for structural members.

Depending on the grade of LVL chosen, the modulus of elasticity for LVL products can be as high as 2E6, which exceeds the modulus of elasticity for Sitka spruce or Douglas fir.

However, density of LVL grades with modulus of elasticity of 2E6 is typically higher (e.g. about 40 lb per cubic foot vs. about 27 for Sitka spruce or 32 for Douglas fir) which is a negative factor. It's slightly lighter than white ash on average, with a higher modulus of elasticity than white ash, and I understand that white ash is considered a decent aircraft wood, though perhaps a bit on the heavy side. A grade of LVL with modulus of elasticity of 1.7E6 is lighter (about 36 lb per cubic feet).

I don't know how LVL compares in modulus of rupture, shock resistance, and other structural parameters.

Vendors of LVL claim less variability in structural parameters than natural wood, which is a good thing. Vendors claim that the veneers are graded (by various automated means) before the laminated products are built up, which is probably also a good thing, and because a slight weakness or defect in any single lamination has relatively little effect on the overall structure, that is also a good thing.

LVL tends to be expensive compared to regular lumber, but I will bet it is not expensive compared to aircraft grade lumber.

According to some historical notes, LVL was actually used in World War II to build aircraft, especially the Mosquito bomber, although it is likely that the LVL used then is not the same as LVL used in the building trades today.

There would be a number of things to consider of course, (more than can be discussed in an introductory post on the topic), but I thought it might be a good topic to discuss, particularly since I can't find anything on the topic in searches of this forum.

[Dana]

I believe Steen Skybolts use laminated spars nowadays.

[FlyingRon]

Yep, the first thing I think (based on construction material) is LVL is heavier. Not as big a concern if you're building a house, but problematic on airplanes. You can get all the LVL parameters from their manufacters. ModE only one parameter (and even ModE has different modes of measurement). There's also flex pressures (the actually load carrying ability) and compression factors. I've had to go through all this when trying to size a beam over a 16 sliding door with limited room for a header above. I ended up having to add a steel filch to the thing.

Of course, the other building idea, trusses, have been used in airplanes for far longer.

The Skybolt does use a laminated spar, but it's a far cry from LVL. It's just a small number of plies (2?) of spruce glued together. It just primarily gets around the issues of finding a hunk of spruce big enough that meets the quality requirements.

[massmanute]

Yep, the first thing I think (based on construction material) ...You can get all the LVL parameters from their manufacters...

Thanks for the comments. I have not been successful in finding all of the LVL parameters from manufacturers online sources. For example, I have not yet found an online manufacturers information source that lists the modulus of rupture (MOR) of LVL their products. This surprises me a little because it is often claimed that LVL is stronger than natural wood. That's supposedly one reason why it is often used in headers in place of natural wood.

Would it be generally true that, other than density, the two most important structural parameters for aircraft wood are modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR)? What other structural parameters are of particular importance?

[massmanute]

Adding one more thought to my last post, what is the relationship between allowable bending stress and modulus of rupture? I assume that allowable bending stress is probably the modulus of rupture multiplied by some kind of safety factor. Is that right?

I can sometimes find allowable bending stress for LVL, but not modulus of rupture. I can find modulus of rupture for Sitka Spruce, but not allowable bending stress. It would be good to have parameters in a form that are directly comparable.

[FlyingRon]

Not entirely related at all. Usually LVLs are rated in elasticity (deflection) and overall point strength (in psi). Those are stamped right on the beam. I've never had a problem once you know whose product you're using. Here's the one form Weyerhaesur's microllam lvl: https://www.weyerhaeuser.com/applica...57/TJ-9000.pdf