University of Minnesota Duluth
Natural Resources Research Institute - CARTD
Wood Materials and Manufacturing Program
5013 Miller Trunk Highway
Duluth, MN 55811-1442
218-720-4248 https://www.nrri.umn.edu/
Innovative, accelerated advancements of engineered wood materials and a renewed ecological mindset have driven wood into a rapid development cycle as a high-tech construction material. Over the past decade, this resurgence of wood-based construction activity is especially noteworthy in the commercial building sector, with most of the new activity related to two major trends: mass timber construction and offsite
construction. The history of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) dates back to the 1970s. The initial driver for the development of LVL has been the high efficiency of wood use. Even small-diameter logs can be used to produce long LVL beams. As a preliminary step toward the ultimate goal to increase the production velocity and quality of off-site construction and to fill the mass timber demand in the Midwest with a regional product offering, Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) scientists are proposing a project to execute an assessment of the fitness of Eastern softwood peeler logs as LVL feedstock. The NRRI will source peeling logs from Minnesota private forest lands; the peeling logs will be converted into dry veneer sheets at a regional mill; the veneer will be processed at an application laboratory in the Pacific Northwest to analyze the veneer by strength grades suitable for LVL production; the NRRI will conduct a study of surface properties; and the NRRI will summarize, analyze, and report results as to the technical and economic fitness of these species for LVL production. This project will serve as an important step to increasing the harvest of small-diameter softwood logs in Region 9 for LVL production, thus reducing fire hazard and creating the knowledge base leading new forest community economic and industrial development, benefiting all public and private timberland owners.
The manufacture of structurally rated laminated veneer lumber demands knowledge of the properties of the dry veneer from which it is composed. The ultimate goal is to increase the production velocity and quality of off-site construction and to fill the mass timber demand in the Midwest with a regional product offering with LVL. As a predesssor step, there is a need to execute a physical and mechanical baseline assessment of the
fitness of eastern softwood peeler logs as LVL feedstock. The goal of this project to understand structural veneer properties to predict the structural value of LVL billets with four Eastern softwood veneer species –balsam fir, white pine, red pine, and Norway spruce.
Objective 1: Source peeling logs from Minnesota private timberland stakeholders.
Objective 2: Convert peeler logs into 36” x 52” veneer sheets at Great Lakes Veneer.
Objective 3: Evaluate the sheets of veneer at Raute/Metrigaurd to determine strength grades.
Objective 4: Execute deeper study of surface properties at the NRRI.
Objective 5: Develop small veneer storage area to keep the material fresh for future work.
Objective 6: Summarize, analyze, and report results.
