The project aims to characterize complex issues and phenomena in energy-based methods 
used for assessing the load-bearing capacity of wooden beams and wood-based products. This 
work builds upon the author's previous project, which identified gaps in our understanding of 
wood fracture behavior. The experimental portion includes large-scale testing of GLT. The socalled gap test is used to evaluate the stability of fracture toughness when compressive forces 
may occur along the crack. Microscale investigations will focus on: crack initialization and FPZ 
development using X-ray CT imaging with simultaneous loading and dual-sided DIC analysis. 
Also long-term laboratory testing of time-dependent crack development under sustained loads 
(70% Fmax) will be made in order to explore its relationship to the DOL effect. Comprehensive 
numerical modeling will complement these experimental efforts, including extensions of LEFM, 
comparisons with Cohesive Zone Modeling (CZM), and the application of Finite Element Limit 
Analysis (FELA).
