This work aims to assess the bending properties of glued laminated timber beams (glulam) manufactured with species louro-vermelho (Sextonia rubra). Laminations were nondestructively tested using the transverse vibration method (E Mlam). Then 10 glulam beams were manufactured and tested in static bending according to ASTM D 198 standard, having modulus of elasticity (E M), modulus of rupture (fM), and bending moment (M) determined. The finished beams were also tested by the transverse vibration method (E Mvt). It was noted that the E Mvt value was only 2% lower than the E M value. Using laminations with a high modulus of elasticity did allow effective gain in stiffness. Therefore, results indicate that the transverse vibration method is a valid, reliable technique both for testing glulam laminations and for assessing stiffness in finished beams. Bending properties in glulam beams were influenced by the stiffness of constituent laminations.
Transverse vibration; glued laminated timber; static bending