At this station you can see a small display of screws typically used to connect massive timber structures together. When designing timber structures it is important to note that screws are sometimes able to perform the same function as an angle bracket, minimising the visual impact of the connection. Note that while the longest screw here is 300mm long, certain designs can call for screws that are much longer than this. While there are several suppliers of mass timber screws and bracketry, this structure demonstrates some of the range from Rothoblaas. The CLT in this structure has been sourced from XLam Australia. Take a minute to look at the central “spine wall”. Here you can see three layers of sawn timber, each of which has been oriented perpendicular to the last, glued, and pressed into a panel. It is important to note that CLT typically comprises an odd number of layers, so the two external layers span in the same direction. As you can see here, it is standard for external layers to run in the direction of the primary span or load. Here the primary load is vertical, and as such all panels have been designed so the external lamella run vertically. As with other engineered timber products, CLT reduces the impact of knots and other impurities, delivering a whole that is stronger and more robust than the sum of its parts.

Before moving on to the next station, notice how loads are transferred from the landings to the core walls through the use of an angle plate. While a timber plate would also be effective in this circumstance, the combination of materials here gives an aesthetically appealing finish.

Continue up the next half flight of stairs for the next station.