Cross-laminated strand veneer lumber mass timber panels from thermally modified strands

Thin-strand composite panels and subsequent mass timber beams were produced using thermally modified wood strands in a pressurized system. The effects of thermal modification (TM) temperature and dwell time on the mechanical, moisture, and decay performance of panels were studied. TM reduced moisture sorption and increased decay resistance. The thin-strand composites were evaluated in flexure and benchmarked against commercially available structural products. Moreover, the mass timber beams’ out-of-plane bending was accurately predicted with traditionally used laminated beam theory. The study shows that TM, under controlled conditions, enables the production of high-performing wood-strand panels with improved dimensional stability and decay resistance.