POTENTIAL OF REUSING SALVAGED WOODEN MATERIALS IN FABRICATING STRUCTURAL DOWEL LAMINATED TIMBER

Abstract

Reusing salvaged wooden materials in new structural products offers a promising approach towards a circular economy. In this paper, the potentials and challenges related to reusing salvaged wooden materials in mass laminated timber are explored. Furthermore, the research activities at the group for Wooden Structures (Aalto University) related to the reuse of salvaged timber materials in fabricating dowel laminated timber (DLT) are discussed and the outlook of the subject and the future research needs are summarized. Among others, the research group focuses on the use of DLT in structural applications both as a beam-type element and as a slab-type element. The results show that salvaged plywood plates, which are e.g., used in the construction sector as concrete formwork, can be used effectively to produce tenon connectors for DLT fabrication. In addition, the combination of salvaged timber and new full-scale timber boards in alternate layers have shown to be a promising alternative. In this method, short, salvaged timber elements can be used without any end-to-end joining or gluing. Minimizing the required processing procedures can make salvaged timber more profitable and more attractive to the timber products manufacturing sector.