Blackbutt (Eucalyptus Pilularis) is a common plantation hardwood in New South Wales which is highly regarded for its strength and durability but is difficult to laminate. A method was developed to test Blackbutt Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) glue-lines for mode I fracture toughness - comparisons were made to similar work in the USA and Australia. The cleavage test method is demonstrated to be more suitable for assessing LVL bond quality than the currently-used Australian Standard chisel test. The test shows that Blackbutt veneer is capable of being glued for application as a durable structural material
