ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED FROM RECLAIMED HARDWOOD TIMBER
Open accessAbstract
The circular economy is commonly applied in recent years in order to reduce the amount of wood waste with many environmental benefits.The construction and demolition sector generates a large amount of wood waste that can be potentially reused or recycled into different wood-added-value products.The InFutUReWood and the RECOWERS European projects deal with reusing and recycling recovered timber as a structural material.One of the potential applications of recovered wood from construction and demolition sources is in manufacturing Engineered Wood Products (EWP).Twelve Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels and twelve glued-laminated timber (glulam) pieces from European oak were manufactured and tested in the present work.Four different 3-layer CLT panel configurations and two different 5-lamella glulam pieces configurations were manufactured using recovered and new European oak timber.The results show that there is significant potential in using recovered timber for manufacturing EWP.The modulus of elasticity of CLT panels and glulam pieces from recovered and new timber is similar while bending strength is lower in the case of EWP from recovered timber than from new timber, but still enough high for structural applications.The timber yield producing EWP from recovered timber is really low due to the great amount of wood waste generated during manufacturing.
AI snapshot
Written from the paper’s full text.
TL;DR
Twelve 3-layer CLT panels and twelve 5-lamella glulam pieces were manufactured from recovered and new European oak and tested in bending. Recovered timber gave similar modulus of elasticity but lower bending strength than new timber, though the lowest recovered-timber strengths remained high enough for structural use.
Key findings
- MOE was statistically similar across CLT and glulam configurations: ANOVA found nonsignificant differences at 95% confidence for MOE between recovered and new timber.
- MOR was significantly lower when recovered timber was used in the longitudinal CLT layers (RRR, RNR) and in glulam (R vs. N); CLT cross-layer material did not appear to affect MOR.
- Mean MOR values: CLT RRR 44.74 N/mm², RNR 46.49 N/mm², NRN 72.80 N/mm², NNN 74.01 N/mm²; glulam R 38.11 N/mm², N 73.51 N/mm².
- The lowest MOR values were 35.81 N/mm² for CLT panels and 31.87 N/mm² for glulam pieces, which the authors state are still sufficient for structural applications; timber yield from recovered timber was around 13%.
Methods
- Recovered European oak (Quercus robur L.) came from large cross-section pieces (145 × 165 mm²) from a 150-year-old house demolition; boards were sawn and planed to 20 × 100 mm².
- Twelve 3-layer CLT panels were made in four configurations (3 each: RRR, RNR, NRN, NNN), and twelve 5-lamella glulam pieces were made (6 recovered, 6 new).
- Four-point bending tests were conducted: CLT over a span of 24 times thickness per EN16351, glulam over 18 times thickness per EN408; MOE, MOR, and density were adjusted to 12% MC, and ANOVA was used at 95% confidence.
Limitations
- The paper states that due to the small number of specimens, it was not possible to determine the 5th percentile of MOR and density.
- The study is limited to European oak from one recovered timber source and small test groups (3 panels per CLT configuration; 6 glulam pieces per timber type), which is evident from the reported sample sizes.
- The authors report a very low timber yield (around 13%) when manufacturing EWP from the recovered timber used in this study, noting that yield depends strongly on the dimensions and condition of recovered timber.
Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
0 of 14 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged
- Findingown data
No failure differences were visually detected among CLT panels and glulam pieces manufactured with recovered and new timber.
“No failure differences were visually detected among CLT panels and glulam pieces manufactured with recovered and new timber.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
The bending strength (MOR) of EWP (CLT panels and glulam pieces) manufactured from recovered European oak timber is lower than that of EWP manufactured from new European oak timber.
“bending strength is lower in the case of EWP from recovered timber than from new timber”
- Also stated in: § Figure 8: MOR ANOVA mean test for CLT panels and glulam pieces · plain
“The MOR of EWP manufactured with recovered European oak timber is further lower than the MOR of EWP manufactured with new European oak timber.”
- Also stated in: § 4 CONCLUSIONS · boosted
“While, bending strength was far higher in new than in recovered timber in CLT panels and glulam pieces.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Also stated in: § Figure 8: MOR ANOVA mean test for CLT panels and glulam pieces · plain
- Findingown data
All CLT panels and glulam pieces tested broke by wood failure in the tension face and the central third (between the two point loads).
“All of the CLT panels and glulam pieces tested broke by wood failure in the tension face and the central third (between the two point loads), as shown in Figures 4 and 6.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
The modulus of elasticity of CLT panels and glulam pieces manufactured from recovered European oak timber is similar to that of EWP manufactured from new European oak timber.
“The modulus of elasticity of CLT panels and glulam pieces from recovered and new timber is similar”
- Also stated in: § Figure 7: MOEglo12 ANOVA mean test for CLT panels and glulam pieces · plain
“In the case of MOE (Figure 7), statistically nonsignificant differences were found at a 95% confidence interval among different kinds of CLT panels and glulam pieces timber configurations.”
- Also stated in: § 4 CONCLUSIONS · plain
“Four-point bending tests showed no significant differences between modulus of elasticity obtained in CLT panels and glulam pieces manufactured from recovered and new timber.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Also stated in: § Figure 7: MOEglo12 ANOVA mean test for CLT panels and glulam pieces · plain
- Findingcitation
The material used in the cross-layer of CLT panels does not affect the MOR values.
“In the case of CLT panels, it looks like that the material used in the cross-layer is not affecting the MOR values as was also reported by another author testing CLT from recovered timber [14].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [14]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Findingown data
No failures by rolling shear or glue-line were reported.
“Other failures for example by rolling shear or glue-line were not reported.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
Statistically nonsignificant differences in MOE were found at a 95% confidence interval among different kinds of CLT panels and glulam pieces timber configurations.
“In the case of MOE (Figure 7), statistically nonsignificant differences were found at a 95% confidence interval among different kinds of CLT panels and glulam pieces timber configurations.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The elastic behaviour was similar in all configurations with recovered or new timber.
“The elastic behaviour was similar in all kind of configurations with recovered or new timber.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Findingown data
The final load is higher in glulam pieces manufactured with new timber (N) than those manufactured with recovered timber (R).
“and also in the case of glulam pieces manufactured with new timber (N) is higher than those manufactured with recovered timber (R).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Findingown data
The final load is higher in CLT panels manufactured using new timber in the longitudinal layers (NRN and NNN) than those using recovered timber in the longitudinal layers (RRR and RNR).
“However, the final load is higher by far in the case of CLT manufactured using new timber in the longitudinal layers (NRN and NNN) than those using recovered timber in the longitudinal layers (RRR and RNR)”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The minimum MOR values achieved (35.81 N/mm2 for CLT panels and 31.87 N/mm2 for glulam pieces) are still high enough for manufacturing EWP from recovered timber for structural purposes.
“the minimum values of MOR achieved, 35.81 N/mm 2 in the case of CLT panels and 31.87N/mm 2 in the case of glulam pieces, are still enough for manufacturing EWP from recovered timber for structural purposes.”
- Also stated in: § 4 CONCLUSIONS · plain
“In spite of bending strength values in CLT panels and glulam pieces manufactured from recovered timber are lower than in the case of new timber, these values are still high enough for structural applications of the manufactured EWP.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Also stated in: § 4 CONCLUSIONS · plain
- Interpretationown data
There is significant potential in using recovered timber for manufacturing EWP.
“The results show that there is significant potential in using recovered timber for manufacturing EWP.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
Irle et al. manufacturing glue laminated products obtained a yield around 30%.
“In the case of Irle et al. [2] manufacturing glue laminated products the yield obtained was around 30%.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [2]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationown data
In CLT panels, only the kind of timber (recovered or new) used in the longitudinal layers determines the differences in bending strength values.
“In the case of CLT panels only the kind of timber (recovered or new) used in the longitudinal layers is determining the differences in bending strength values.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationown data
The recovered timber from demolition sources is capable of being used for manufacturing EWP (CLT panels and glulam pieces) in the present study.
“The results from the testing indicate the capability of the recovered timber from demolition sources to be used for the manufacturing Engineering Wood Products (EWP) in the present study Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels and glued-laminated timber (glulam) pieces.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Interpretationreasoning
The timber yield in manufacturing EWP is greatly influenced by the dimensions and condition of the recovered timber used.
“That means that in the timber yield there is a great influence of the dimensions and condition of the recovered timber using for manufacturing EWP.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim - Premisecitation
The InFutUReWood project manufacturing CLT panels in Ireland obtained a yield around 28%.
“In the case of the InFutUReWood project manufacturing CLT panels in Ireland was around 28% [21].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [21]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- Interpretationreasoning
The yield in the present study was approximately half that of other authors using medium size cross-sections.
“In both cases the yield was approximately double than in the present study.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim - Premisecitation
The CaReWood project found no promising results for structural applications of recycled recovered timber in glued laminated products due to difficulty and expense of identifying and classifying mixed species wood waste.
“However, no promising results were found for structural applications in load-bearing construction elements, due to wood waste usually comes from different mix species, which it would be difficult and expensive to identify and classify [2].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [2]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- May combine two claims. 8
- Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 7
May combine two claims.
FindingreasoningThe timber yield of manufacturing EWP from recovered timber in the present study was low, around 13%, due to the great amount of wood waste generated during manufacturing.
“The timber yield producing EWP from recovered timber is really low due to the great amount of wood waste generated during manufacturing.”
- Also stated in: § Figure 8: MOR ANOVA mean test for CLT panels and glulam pieces · plain
“In the present study the final yield was around 13% because the original recovered timber was large crosssection.”
- Also stated in: § 4 CONCLUSIONS · plain
“Recycling recovered timber in EWP produce a low timber yield (around 13% in the present study), with a great amount of wood waste generate during the manufacturing.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim- Also stated in: § Figure 8: MOR ANOVA mean test for CLT panels and glulam pieces · plain
May combine two claims.
Findingown dataStatistically significant differences in MOR were found at a 95% confidence interval between CLT panels manufactured using recovered timber in the longitudinal layers (RRR, RNR) and using new timber in the longitudinal layers (NRN, NNN), and also between glulam pieces manufactured from recovered timber (R) and from new timber (N).
“In the case of MOR (Figure 8), statistically significant differences were found at a 95% confidence interval between CLT panels manufactured using recovered timber in the longitudinal layers (RRR, RNR) and using new timber in the longitudinal layers (NRN, NNN), and also between glulam pieces manufactured from recovered timber (R) and from new timber (N).”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimMay combine two claims.
Findingown dataThe lowest value of MOR was 35.81 N/mm2 in CLT panels and 31.87 N/mm2 in glulam pieces.
“The lowest value of MOR was 35.81 N/mm 2 in the case of CLT panels and 31.87N/mm 2 in the case of glulam pieces.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimClassified as probably not a substantial claim.
PremisecitationPotential end-use structural possibilities for wood waste include high-quality EWP such as glulam, solid wood panels, and CLT.
“Potential end-use structural possibilities include high-quality Engineered Wood Products (EWP) such as glued-laminated timber (glulam), solid wood panels, and Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) [8].”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [8]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationIn previous studies testing recovered solid-sawn timber, MOE was reported not to change over time, while MOR was lower over time in softwoods and hardwoods species.
“In previous studies testing recovered solid-sawn timber was reported that MOE is not changing over time, while MOR is lower over time in softwoods and hardwoods species [15][16][17].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [15]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [16]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [17]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Classified as probably not a substantial claim.
Study design and conductreasoningThe study used a four-point bending test over a span of 24 times the thickness for CLT panels to avoid rolling shear.
“However, in order to avoid rolling shear, four-point bending test over a span of 24 times the thickness was conducted.”
Quote in the paperSubstantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationArbelaez et al. reported the same MOE but lower MOR testing CLT panels manufactured with recovered Douglas-fir timber.
“while Arbelaez et al. [20] reported the same MOE but lower MOR testing CLT panels manufactured with recovered Douglas-fir timber.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [20]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).
Study design and conductown dataDue to the small number of specimens, it was not possible to determine the 5th percentile of MOR and density.
“Due to the small number of specimens, it was not possible to determine the 5º percentile of MOR and density.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claimProbably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationRose et al. reported higher MOE and lower MOR in CLT panels manufactured from a mix of recovered softwood timber species.
“Rose et al. [9] reported higher MOE and lower MOR in the case of CLT panels manufactured from a mix of recovered softwood timber species”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [9]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.
PremisecitationPrevious tests on CLT from recovered mixed softwood timbers showed higher stiffness capacity and lower strength than CLT from new sawn softwood timber.
“Previous tests on CLT from recovered mixed softwood timbers showed higher stiffness capacity and lower strength than CLT from new sawn softwood timber [9].”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked- cites [9]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
May combine two claims.
InterpretationcitationThe MOR reduction in recovered timber is probably due to a mix of load history, nails and holes, increased brittleness, and original timber quality.
“Probably the reason will be a mix of all these explanations.”
Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked- cites [18]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [16]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
- cites [19]
Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.
The paper relies on this without support.
There is a lack of a reliable classification or grading system that estimates the properties of recovered timber in order to reuse it for structural applications.
“There is a lack of a reliable classification or grading system that estimates the properties of recovered timber in order to reuse it for structural applications.”
The paper relies on this without support.
Much of construction and demolition wood waste has the quality to reuse or recycle in added-value structural products.
“Much of that wood waste has the quality to reuse or recycle in added-value structural products.”
The paper relies on this without support.
The increase in timber demand for construction purposes in Europe will lead to a lack of enough new timber resources.
“Furthermore, the increase in timber demand for construction purposes in Europe will lead to a lack of enough new timber resources.”
Cites
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A review on the mechanical properties of aged wood and salvaged timber
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Advanced recycling of post-consumer solid wood and MDF
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Recycling wood waste from construction and demolition to produce particleboards
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Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Cudečka-Puriņa, N., Kuzmina, J., Butkevičs, J., et al. (2024) · Energies · doi:10.3390/en17215506 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
“In Spain, recovered wood is predominantly processed into chips, which serve dual purposes: as a feedstock for energy generation and as a raw material in the manufacture of particleboards [54].”
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BackgroundRanttila, H., Fink, G., Brandner, R., & Ridley-Ellis, D. (2025) · Wood Material Science & Engineering · doi:10.1080/17480272.2025.2517186 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“This is, in principle, also confirmed by Llana et al .”
Challenges and Potentials for Circulating Structural Timber and Engineered Wood Products
Ranttila, H., Fink, G., Brandner, R., & Ridley-Ellis, D. (2025) · Springer tracts in civil engineering · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-02098-7_30
- Authors
- Fernandez Llana, D., González-Alegre, V., Portela, M., García-Navarro, J., & Íñiguez-González, G.
- Affiliations
- Universidad Politecnica De Madrid
- Universidad de Valladolid (ES)
- Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (ES)
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ES)
- Venue
- World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE 2023)
- Published
- 2023
- Pages
- 3594-3599
- OpenAlex
- W4380451103
- Semantic Scholar
- 63edc8503d8ee2b1621497145b197a7518ce56ec
- Cited by
- 6
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 3
- FWCI
- 3.69
- Type
- conference paper
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE) (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- European Commission (HORIZON2020, 101025786)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Wood Treatment and Properties
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Forestry › Agricultural and Food Sciences
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Bamboo properties and applications
- Keywords
- engineered wood products, cross-laminated timber, glued laminated timber, European oak, construction and demolition waste, circular economy, wood recycling, elastic modulus, flexural strength, timber yield
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-16.
Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-16.
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