PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LAMINATED VENEER LUMBER REINFORCED GFRP

The aim of the present research was to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of LVL reinforced with GFRP with two types of resines. At first, LVL panels were manufactured with nine layers of wood veneer glued with phenol-formaldehyde resin. After, they were reinforced with fiberglass impregnated with epoxy or isophthalic resin or with isophthalic resin. The treatments consisted on the aplication of one, two and four reinforced layers. The properties tested were density, moisture content, static bending in flatwise and edgewise position, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), glue line shear strength by compression loading. The epoxy and the isophthalic resin showed the same mechanical qualities among different treatments. MOE panel in flatwise position was influenced by one reinforcement layer and MOR was influenced by two reinforcement layers. In the edgewise position, MOE and MOR values remained stable among the treatments with two fiberglass reinforcement layers. The epoxy resin presented higher glue line resistance and higher percentage of wood failure. Isophthalic and phenolic resin presented similar values of glue line strength. However, the isophthalic resin had lower percentage of wood failure. Thus, the reinforcement with one layer of fiberglass with epoxy resin on the tensile side would be enough to boost the mechanical qualities of LVL.