Mr MJ Jacobs (centre) successfully defended his MSc thesis with the title ‘Out-of-plane strength and stiffness prediction of SA Pine cross-laminated timber’. The most important conclusion was that the shear analogy calculation method gave the best predictions for strength and stiffness of SA Pine CLT. A table of unfactored resistance for three-, and five-layer layups using South African strength classes was produced and structural engineers in South Africa can use that table for designing CLT buildings from SA Pine.  Since submitting his thesis, MJ has worked at XLAM South Africa and has now been appointed as Director at Holzbau CPT where he is responsible for setting up a new local glulam factory.  MJ is pictured here with Mr Michael Kloos (left), a structural engineer who often designs CLT buildings, and his supervisor Prof. Brand Wessels (right).  The results will hopefully help both South African engineers and consumers to have more confidence in designing with and using CLT. The future of cross laminated timber looks bright in South Africa!

Source: Stellenbosch University