Experimental investigation of in-plane loaded timber-framed rammed earth panels. Part II: Cyclic shear-compression tests

Abstract

Preliminary indications about the timber-framed rammed earth panel (TREP) stiffness and load bearing capacity have been obtained from a first experimental study that has been expressively set up and performed to investigate the TREP in-plane static behavior. The present part II, together with the foregoing part I (companion paper), illustrates and discusses the key experimental results obtained from the compression-shear loading tests performed on rammed earth panels reinforced by a contouring timber frame. In the present part II of the paper, the cyclic loading tests on two TREP elements and one bare timber frame are carefully analyzed, the results are discussed, in terms of load capacity and ductility, and the detected damage modes are explained. The results seem to show that the reinforcing timber frame provides a substantial benefit enabling the development of an effective “strut-and-tie” resisting mechanism that effectively exploits the compressive strength of the rammed earth panel and promotes a ductile failure mode.