Measurement of rolling shear modulus of Cross Laminated Timber: Exploratory study using downscaled specimens under variable span bending tests
The purpose of this study was to measure the rolling shear modulus of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), which was achieved by conducting 3-point bending tests with variable span using downscaled sandwich specimens. Two types of sandwich specimens were employed: steel-wood-steel (SWS) and wood-wood-wood (WWW). Experimental results from SWS specimens were verified with those predicted from WWW ones through the shear analogy method. Effects of span-to-depth ratio (l/h) and growth ring orientation on rolling shear modulus (GRT) were also examined. It was found that the average deflection of WWW specimens tested at l/h of 6.5 could be well predicted using the shear analogy method based on true elasticity of modulus (Em) and GRT of the cross layer measured using SWS specimens under variable span tests. The results also showed that the cross layer of `in-between' growth ring orientation could gain the higher rolling shear modulus than that of flat sawn or quarter sawn one.
Effects of the thickness of cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels made from Irish Sitka spruce on mechanical performance in bending and shear
Abstract An investigation was carried out on CLT panels made from Sitka spruce in order to establish the effect of the thickness of CLT panels on the bending stiffness and strength and the rolling shear. Bending and shear tests on 3-layer and 5-layer panels were performed with loading in the out-of-plane and in-plane directions. ‘Global’ stiffness measurements were found to correlate well with theoretical values. Based on the results, there was a general tendency that both the bending strength and rolling shear decreased with panel thickness. Mean values for rolling shear ranged from 1.0 N/mm 2 to 2.0 N/mm 2 .
Techno-economic analysis of solar thermal power plants using liquid sodium as heat transfer fluid
Abstract Solar thermal power plants with central receiver and thermal storage are expected to be one key technology in future electricity generation, because they are renewable and due to the thermal storage independent of the current solar radiation. State-of-the-art solar power plants often use molten nitrate salts as heat transfer fluid. The use of liquid sodium instead leads to lower electricity generation costs. Sodium has a high thermal conductivity and thus large heat transfer rates are possible. Hence, a smaller absorber surface is sufficient for the same thermal power. As a result, the sodium receiver achieves a higher efficiency at lower investment cost. Additionally, the aiming strategy, which reduces the peak heat flux on molten salt receivers isn’t necessary for sodium. Even at high heat flux densities, the absorber tubes will be cooled sufficiently due to the high heat transfer coefficients. Therefore, the sodium receiver in this analysis is designed for one single aim point, resulting in a heat flux density of q mean = 1.06 MW / m 2 and q peak = 2.99 MW / m 2 . The state-of-the-art system with molten salt considers q mean = 0.51 MW / m 2 and q peak = 1.0 MW / m 2 . The presented techno-economic analysis of two sodium based concepts compared to a reference system with molten salt results in up to 16% lower electricity generation costs.