Wrapping LVL as a wood-only timber frame joint inspired by the model of trees' stem-branch junction

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The performed simplified experiments of adding 45 degrees cross-laminated veneer layers as outer reinforcements to three sides of the flat-wise loaded laminated-core material with a thickness of 8% of the total depth, showed the significant enhancement in moment capacity, doubling the performance of the unreinforced core material in flat-wise and edge-wise loading conditions and slightly surpassing the performance of solid wood.These initial findings promise to introduce enhanced bent-laminated elements capable of seamlessly transferring loads between two linear sections adequately and homogeneously and approaching the intended aim of a structurally sound, wood- only, moment-resistant constructional application at timber joints. However, the intended continuous wrapping approach of the addressed application proved to be technically challenging, specifically on curved surfaces; hence, much simpler applications of wrapped bent veneers with the same intended performance have been developed. Furthermore, regarding the parameters of adhesive type, thickness, wrapping angle, and material of the reinforcement layers, a specially developed shear/tension testing jig was manufactured to achieve the optimal combination. The fixture was adapted from the Arcan et al. shear fixture; ranging from pure shear to pure tension in 15 degrees increments and at variable thicknesses, and will facilitate the analytical parametric design of the desired performance.