Abstract
In general, the satisfactory seismic performance of timber buildings can be partially attributed to the material characteristics of the wood itself and to the lightness of its own structure. The aim of this paper is to analyze the in-plane behavior of light timber walls panels through a series of monotonic and cyclic tests, and to evaluate how the sheathing material and the fixation to the base influence the overall response of the wall. Five tests are presented and discussed while the reliability of an analytical method to predict the response of the walls is studied. The sheathing material revealed to be important in the overall response of the wall. Moreover, the type of fixation to the base also revealed to be important in the in-plane response of timber walls. In-plane stiffnesses, static ductility, energy dissipation and damping ratio have been quantified.
Highlights
The development of engineered wood products and improved techniques for timber constructions, together with the shift to performance-based design, has created a renewed interest in timber construction systems, in medium- and high-rise construction
The increase of in-plane stiffness is proportional to the number of sheathing elements
Using the hold-downs, in direct comparison with specimen D, the load-carrying capacity of the hold‐downs, in direct comparison with specimen D, the load‐carrying capacity of the panel doubles and the in-plane stiffness increases around 23%
Summary
The development of engineered wood products and improved techniques for timber constructions, together with the shift to performance-based design, has created a renewed interest in timber construction systems, in medium- and high-rise construction. Current building codes for timber structures seem to be underdeveloped when compared with those of concrete, steel, and masonry. It is of prime importance to identify the research needs for wood buildings and to establish a firm scientific basis for their codes and regulations. Much of the research work aims at studying the possibilities of modern timber solutions in housing. Modern timber constructions exhibit good fire performance, acoustic behavior, improved strength and durability. This work intends to increase the working knowledge on the seismic performance of timber structures [1,2,3] when subjected to seismic actions
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