Construction with small-diameter roundwood

Large quantities of small-diameter roundwood are readily available from commercial forest thinnings and other harvesting practices. Its use in construction has been limited mainly because of the lack of grading standards and experience in efficiently connecting roundwood members in structural applications. This review focuses on effective connections for small-diameter roundwood, which can encourage the use of this material, especially in less developed areas of the world. Much of the information presented is based on a major study by a number of Europeans who participated in the European Community 4th Framework Project. Supplementary information is presented on novel and improved devices suitable for connecting roundwood, investigated at Vyatka State Technical University in Kirov, Russia, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA.