Eucalyptus nitens is a fast-growing wood species with a relevant presence in countries like Australia and Chile. The sustainable construction goals have driven the search of structural applications for Eucalyptus nitens; however, this process has been complicated due to the defects usually presented in these timber boards. This study aims to evaluate the dynamic elasticity modulus (E_xd) of Eucalyptus nitens timber boards through non-destructive vibration-based tests. Thirty-six timber boards with different levels of knots and cracks were instrumented and tested in a simply supported condition by measuring longitudinal and transverse vibrations. In the first stage, the E_xd was calculated globally through simplified normative formulas. Then, in a second stage, the local variability of the E_xd was estimated using operational modal analysis (OMA), finite element numerical simulations (FEM), and regional sensitivity analysis (RSA). The positive correlation found between the global static modulus of elasticity and E_xd suggests that non-destructive techniques could be used as a reliable and fast alternative for the assessment of bending stiffness. Finally, the proposed method to estimate the local variability of E_xdt based on the combination of OMA, FEM, and RSA techniques was useful to improve the structural selection process of timber boards for lightweight social housing floors.

Wood is a sustainable and renewable material with a lower carbon footprint than other materials. However, its transformation into engineered products industrially, such as glulam, requires kiln drying, which implies energy consumption and loss of wood resources. Recent research has carried out green gluing, a variant of glulam characterized by a reduction of the drying process. Interest in it has increased as a new method of improving the use of wood that does not meet industry standards. It has been accomplished by developing adhesives for wood with high moisture content, but the variables involved are not yet completely understood. Therefore, conducting further research and analyzing the relevant publications is necessary. Bibliometric analysis was the method used, which included documents stored (from 2000 to 2020) in Scopus (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics), and SciELO Citation Index (Web of Science—Clarivate Analytics) databases. The bibliometric analysis identified three main areas to develop: glue wood, glue properties, and analysis methods. The studies were concentrated on a few countries and research groups. The main progress has been made in synthetic and natural (or environmentally friendly) glue topics. The improvement of technique could enlarge the opportunities for collaboration and innovation in wood material science.

Structural lumber is designed to meet the technical standards that ensure safety, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. However, some tree species face limitations in their growth, which restricts their widespread use. An example of this is Nothofagus alpina, which has excellent mechanical properties but is not utilized much due to the challenges in extracting its timber and poor utilization, mainly because of the length of the wood. There is little information concerned with the uses and better management of small pieces using Nothofagus species, but it is still insufficient. This study investigates the adhesion performance of green-glued finger joints with varying wood ring orientations and moisture contents ranging from 21% to 25% using Nothofagus alpina. The primary aim is to assess how ring orientation and wet timber affect the green gluing process for creating larger wood pieces than sawn wood. The resulting products could meet the standards for wood serviceability number three for native Chilean wood. The findings indicate that finger joint performance improves with higher timber moisture levels. However, the orientation of the wood fibers did not significantly affect the performance under the tested conditions. It is important to note that this effect may become more significant near the fiber saturation point. These findings emphasize the need for a detailed protocol on the green gluing technique for Nothofagus alpina and the associated drying and surface processes in finger joint construction.

Appraising and protecting forests requires a management plan and the creation of innovative products for the market. The development of the green gluing technique could add value to native timber. However, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the response and the productive process of Nothofagus species using this technique. This work investigated the viability of implementing the green gluing method using three types of Nothofagus. Wood pieces were made using a one-component polyurethane adhesive. Delamination, shear tests, morphological characterization, and bond line thickness analysis tested their capacity. The results showed a variable response depending on the Nothofagus type, where the surface treatment could improve the green gluing performance. The findings highlight the relevance of increasing knowledge about the essayed species and their preparation to maintain their natural moisture condition.

Timber construction experiences a growing trend in different countries due to its inherent environmental benefits and proven lateral load performance. However, most of the previous studies on structural and seismic performance have focused on undamaged structures without any signs of deterioration. This paper focuses on the analysis of the effects of the initial damage state on the seismic response and fragility of a five-story CLT building designed under a force-based approach. A detailed 3D finite element model was developed and validated through experimental data in order to perform incremental dynamic analyses that considered different arbitrarily imposed initial damage states. The residual response and the fragility functions are analyzed to characterize the impact of the initial state on seismic behavior. The results of this work highlight the need to properly consider the effect of previous load actions for the seismic performance evaluation during the operating life of CLT structures. Findings suggest that the initial state can significantly modify the probability of reaching a given limit state. Moreover, it was found that if the initial damage is defined as severe, the collapse margin ratio is reduced by 58.8% compared to the case in which the initial state is undamaged.