Outdoor exposure tests of structural laminated veneer lumber I: Evaluation of the physical properties after six years

Abstract

To investigate the durability of structural laminated veneer lumber (LVL), outdoor exposure tests have been conducted since 1990 at a field-testing site at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute. This paper is an interim report on the results after 6 years' exposure. Seven kinds of structural LVL with no preservative treatment were subjected to the tests. These specimens were sampled at the testing site each year and then stored for more than 1 year in a testing room conditioned at 20°C and 65% relative humidity. We then measured the modulus of elasticity (MOE) by longitudinal vibration frequency, the penetration depth by the Pilodyn method, weight loss, color difference (ΔE*) by the CIE L*a*b* system, swelling, compression strength, and bending-shear strength. Deterioration caused by outdoor exposure was obvious in the color, weight, MOE, and compressive strength of LVLs, but not in the penetration depth by the Pilodyn method or the bending-shear strength. The retention values of MOE and compressive strength after 6 years of exposure were 78% and 77%, respectively. The difference in durability among material species was not significant in general, except that heavy decay by brown rot fungi took place on some of the grand fir specimens. It should be noted that no significant delamination occurred in any of the adhesive layers, although slight checks developed on the surface of the specimens.