Gary Raftery & Weixi Wang

Researchers at the University’s Structural Timber Innovation Laboratory are breaking ground with durability programmes to open new applications for low carbon cross-laminated timber in demanding outdoor environments. …However, its use is largely limited to indoor environments, and has only rarely been used in applications such as bridges, facades, outdoor pavilions, and other infrastructure. “Our research aims to change that,” says Dr Gary Raftery, a research director in the University’s Circular Innovations Research Centre. The team is conducting a series of long-term exposure trials using both outdoor and lab experiments that simulate extreme conditions. …Working with industry partners, the team is meticulously assessing adhesive and preservative systems to augment the performance of cross-laminated timber, while keeping sustainability front-of-mind. …Life-cycle analysis on end-of-life applications is also being conducted to assess environmental impacts.