Construction systems based on cross-laminated timber (CLT) have versatility in material development and are an interesting alternative for construction. This study evaluated the structural performance of cross-laminated timber-bamboo produced from wood (Pinus spp.) and bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus). Panels were produced by strips (wood and bamboo) assorted, under non-destructive structural grading, to support a better panel configuration. Small-length pine pieces were also included in the study, considering their low added-value and underutilization in sawmills from Telêmaco Borba, Brazil. Gluing tests of small specimens were performed to evaluate the bonding quality of three adhesives: melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF), isocyanate polymeric emulsion (IPE), and castor oil-based resin (COR). Shear stress strength parallel to grain between bamboo and wood showed the best performance for MUF resin. After preliminary gluing testing, eight cross-laminated panels were produced with MUF adhesive in a three-layered configuration, with transversal orientation: two external bamboo layers and a central layer of pine wood. Stiffness and rupture strength values were above those specified by the ANSI/APA PGR 320 (2012) standard. Elasticity and rupture moduli were 13,310 MPa and 65 MPa, respectively, showing good potential of this composite for structural uses.

The second glued-laminated structure built in the United States was constructed at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in 1934 to demonstrate the performance of wooden arch buildings. After 75 years of use, the structure was decommissioned in 2010. Shortly after construction, researchers structurally evaluated the glued-laminated arch structure for uniform loading on the center arch. This structural system evaluation was added to the existing laboratory work on glued-laminated arches to develop the foundation on which the current glued-laminated arch design criteria is based. After 75 years of service and decommisioning, recovered arches were tested in the laboratory to evaluate the loss of structural performance. Loss of structural performance was evaluated by comparing original and current deformation. Based on a preliminary visual and structural assessment, the degradation of structural performance was minimal in the arches, except for two arches that were affected by the building fire.

Sustainability issues are driving the civil construction industry to adopt and study more environmentally friendly technologies as an alternative to traditional masonry/concrete construction. In this context, plantation wood especially stands out as a constituent of the cross-laminated timber (CLT) system, laminated wood glued in perpendicular layers forming a solid-wood structural panel. CLT panels are commonly connected by screws or nails, and several authors have investigated the behavior of these connections. Glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) dowels have been used to connect wooden structures, and have presented excellent performance results; however, they have not yet been tested in CLT. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze the glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP)-doweled connections between CLT panels. The specimens were submitted to monotonic shear loading, following the test protocol described in EN 26891-1991. Two configurations of adjacent five-layer panels were tested: flat-butt connections with 45° dowels (x, y, and z axes), and half-lap connections with 90° dowels. The results were evaluated according to the mechanical connection properties of strength, stiffness, and ductility ratio. The results showed higher stiffness for butt-end connections. In terms of strength, the half-lap connections were stronger than the butt-end connections.

Lumber mills generate a huge volume of residues, with tree bark and saw shavings being main contributors. A small amount of this material is burned for energy generation, though most of it is left on the sawmill grounds or dumped in sanitary landfills, thus presenting a huge environmental issue. This study deals with the application of eucalyptus bark and saw shavings for the manufacturing of oriented strand board (OSB). Four types of panel compositions where studied: 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% of bark content; 10% percent of shavings for all of them, and a variable content of pine strands. The adhesive was phenol formaldehyde at 6% related to the dry mass of the components. Because an important characteristic of OSB panels is their response to swelling, a 1% of paraffin emulsion was added to seal the particles. The results showed that only the 90%-bark panel could meet OSB standard prescriptions as a type 1 “dry environment application”.

Despite the growing adoption of modular construction (MC) to enhance productivity, sustainability and industrialization in the building sector, critical terminological inconsistencies and conceptual ambiguities persist across academic, professional and regulatory domains. This study conducts a systematic literature review to investigate how the key terms modular, module, modularity, modularization and modular coordination are defined and applied in the recent literature. Following the PRISMA protocol, 85 peer-reviewed articles were selected from an initial pool of 4832 Scopus records. Bibliometric and thematic analyses reveal a lack of conceptual consistency in the application of key terms, most notably the frequent misuse of module to describe non-volumetric components. Beyond identifying these ambiguities, this study maps the most recurrent definitional patterns to outline potential pathways toward conceptual consensus. It clarifies the boundaries between modular (a system attribute), modularization (a design strategy), modularity (a system property), module (a prefabricated, spatially autonomous, functionally complete, and volumetric unit) and modular coordination (a dimensional grid system). Based on these insights, it proposes a conceptual hierarchy, and a set of propositions integrated into a structured glossary that contribute to terminological clarity, foster standardization, and improve communication in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector.

In line with technological advancements, the construction industry worldwide has sought more efficient building systems in relation to aspects such as increased productivity, reduced material waste and meeting the growing demand. The objective of this research was to use structural joints composed of composite dowels in laminated wood beams as an alternative to connect pieces of wood. Composite materials are composed of a matrix phase and a reinforcement phase and, in civil engineering, are generally applied as reinforcements in concrete structures. This article presents the structural performance of laminated pine timber with composite dowels made of fiber-reinforced polymeric resin (epoxy resin, hardener and glass fiber) (glass-fiber-reinforced polymer, GFRP) with a diameter of 12.5 mm, which was subjected to tensile force in the direction of the connection. For this, an experimental program was carried out that included characterization of the GFRP dowel, characterization of the woods used to make the connection and a tensile test of the connections with the dowels reinforced with fiberglass through a prototype designed specifically for the test. Subsequently, the results were compared with those observed in the literature. In the comparisons, it was possible to conclude that the joints with FRP pins exhibited better performance in terms of shear strength per section than those such as common nails, helical nails (Ardox) and composite structural pins (half-lap, 90°), which were 3.8 mm, 3.4 mm and 6 mm in diameter, respectively. This indicates that this composite material has potential for application in these types of connections. As an original contribution, it proves the feasibility of using this material in dowel joints for wooden structures.