Experimental testing of platform-type and balloon-type cross-laminated timber (CLT) shear walls with supplemental energy dissipators

Abstract

CLT technology is gaining notable popularity in both residential and non-residential applications throughout the world, providing a prospective solution to the height limitation of timber buildings. Recently, a growing number of studies have been focusing on energy dissipation strategies for CLT structures since the energy dissipation capacity of CLT structures might sometimes be challenged in seismic design. This paper presents an experimental investigation into the lateral performance of platform-type and balloon-type CLT shear walls with supplemental energy dissipators. Such supplemental energy dissipators are located between coupled CLT wall panels, intending to deform and dissipate energy through the rocking mechanism of CLT shear walls. Two kinds of energy dissipators were adopted, respectively, called O-shaped Flexural Plate (OFP) dissipator and Plate with Openings (PO) dissipator. Quasi-static tests were conducted on four one-third-scale two-story CLT shear wall specimens considering platform and balloon construction methods and these two types of supplemental energy dissipators. The experimental observations, load-displacement responses, energy dissipation capacities, stiffness degradation, and combined single-coupled wall behaviors of the specimens were obtained and compared. The test results showed that the OFP dissipator was quite efficient in dissipating energy, while the PO dissipator exhibited limited energy dissipation capability because it was prone to low cycle fatigue fracture. The supplemental energy dissipators dissipated more energy in balloon-type CLT shear walls compared to those in platform-type CLT shear walls due to the influence of construction methods on the demand of supplemental energy dissipators. In platform-type CLT shear walls, the coupled wall behavior of the walls in the second story was more evident than that of the walls in the first story.