# Experimental Evaluation of Gluam Made from Portuguese Eucalyptus
## 4 Discussion  
Table 5 compares the results reported by the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LNEC) based on small clear specimens of _Eucalyptus globulus_ and the average values obtained in the experimental campaign performed.  
The specimens measured have an average density of 805 kg/m\({}^{3}\), corresponding to a moisture content of clear and small-sized, which was taken from gluam specimens less or equal to 12.5%, as recommended by EN 13183-1 [17]. These values are similar to the corresponding results from LNEC [14], although they are less than the one presented by [PERSON], and [PERSON] [10] (980 kg/m\({}^{3}\)) and higher than the one presented by [PERSON] et al. [29] (730 kg/m\({}^{3}\)). Therefore, compared to results from LNEC and previous works, the values obtained in this experimental campaign can be assumed to be coherent and slightly better.  
The compression parallel to the grain and bending strength attained average values of 73 N/mm\({}^{2}\) and 151 N/mm\({}^{2}\), respectively. These values are higher than the ones presented by LNEC [14], by 48% and 19%, respectively. Regarding the ones presented by [PERSON] and [PERSON] [10], similar values were achieved for the compression strength parallel to the grain  
Figure 6: Curves of applied loads versus displacement (**a**). Typical failure modes of timber elements under bending. (**b**) Failure by pure tension and (**c**) failure progress by shear.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline
**Properties** & **Unity** & **LNEC [14]** & **Obtained Results** \\ \hline Density & kg/m\({}^{3}\) & 750–850 & 803–813 \\ \hline Bending strength & Module of Rupture & N/mm\({}^{2}\) & 127.5 & 151.3 \\ \hline Compression parallel to the grain & Strength of failure & N/mm\({}^{2}\) & 49.1 & 72.8 \\ \hline Bending strength (Glulam beams) & Module of Rupture & - & 96.7 \\  & Elasticity modulus & - & 24,180 \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 5: Summary of the properties evaluated and reported by LNEC for the Portuguese _Eucalyptus globulus_.  
(83 N/mm\({}^{2}\), with a 14% difference) while it was higher than the bending strength value (115 N/mm\({}^{2}\)). Moreover, this study pointed out experimental values higher than those presented by [PERSON] [30] for the compression strength parallel to the grain and bending strength, which were 89 N/mm\({}^{2}\) and 116 N/mm\({}^{2}\), respectively. This variety between the values presented in distinct studies can be justified by different parameters such as the origin and the age of the trees. It is worth highlighting that the average bending strength and global elastic modulus values of 97 N/mm\({}^{2}\) and 24,180 N/mm\({}^{2}\), respectively, registered for the gluam beams tested according to EN 408 [19], were higher than the maximum ones suggested by EN 14080 [7] for gluam elements made of softwoods. Moreover, they were higher than the ones obtained by an experimental campaign, conducted by [PERSON] et al. [9], on full-scale gluam beams manufactured with _Eucalyptus urogrands_ in Brazil. [PERSON] et al. [9] achieved a bending strength in the range of 57-94 N/mm\({}^{2}\) and 17,812-20,072 N/mm\({}^{2}\) for the modulus of elasticity, with a compression strength parallel to the grain strength of 65-75 N/mm\({}^{2}\).  
The results obtained in the experimental campaign performed demonstrate the promising mechanical properties of gluam made with _Eucalyptus globulus_, which can be considered a competitive EWP for structural applications and an excellent alternative to the current gluam made of softwoods.