Experimental Study of the Lateral Resistance of Bolted Glulam Timber Post and Beam Structural Systems

Abstract

AbstractTo study the lateral resistance of bolted glued-laminated (glulam) timber post and beam structures, two monotonic tests and eight cyclic tests were performed on full-scale, one-story, one-bay timber post and beam construction specimens. Four laterally strengthened structural systems were considered: a frame with an X-brace, a frame with a K-brace, a frame with a knee-brace, and a frame filled with light wood shear walls. Seismic performances were evaluated according to the experimental phenomena, hysteretic characteristics, stiffness degradation, strength degradation, and energy dissipation capacity. The results showed that the frame with an X-brace system and the frame with a K-brace system provided markedly better elastic stiffness but lower ductility. The frame with a knee-brace system showed increased elastic stiffness compared with the simple frame system and provided higher ductility compared with both the frame with the X-brace system and the frame with the K-brace system. Additionally, the...