Moisture-induced stresses in glulam cross sections during wetting exposures

Moisture-induced stresses resulting from climate variations of the environment can induce cracks in timber members and thus affect the safety and serviceability. The present study highlights—by means of numerical simulations—the distribution and development over time of moisture-induced stresses in various glulam cross sections during wetting. The results show that local stresses may be significantly larger than average stresses, the extent of which strongly depends on the geometrical configuration of the glulam laminates. Suggestions are made on the design of glulam cross sections to minimize the arising local stresses. Furthermore, the studied wetting exposure results in local tensile stresses that exceed the tensile strength of the material. In smaller cross sections, this is the case within few days, while more time is required in wider cross sections.