Predicting Nonlinear Behavior of Cellular Cross-Laminated Timber Under Bending and Rolling Shear

This study investigates the structural performance of cellular cross-laminated timber (CCLT) through a nonlinear finite element model using Hill and Hashin damage criteria in Abaqus. This study evaluates these criteria in simulating CCLT’s mechanical behavior under bending and shear loading. Experimental validation included short-span and long-span bending tests, along with rolling shear tests. In bending simulations, the Hill criterion predicted maximum loads with a 7% error for long-span beams when modeling lumber as solid elements and the corrugated panel as shell elements. When the entire CCLT was modeled using shell elements, the error increased to 9%. For the short-span bending, the error remained at 8% regardless of element type. The Hashin model provided more accurate results, with deviations of 0.2% for long-span beams and 1% for short-span beams. Both models successfully predicted failure mechanisms, identifying tension failure in the lumber under long-span bending and shear failure in the corrugated core under short-span bending. In rolling shear tests, the Hill criterion underestimated the maximum shear load by 11%, while the Hashin criterion had a larger underestimation of 26%. Despite these discrepancies, both models effectively captured the nonlinear behavior of CCLT panels. These findings highlight the potential of Hill and Hashin criteria for modeling CCLT’s mechanical response, offering valuable insights into structural design applications.