In-plane static tests on a structural timber frame system proposal (TRAROM) inspired from traditional architecture and using local materials

Abstract

A lightweight structural timber system is proposed, inspired from traditional Romanian architecture, and adapted to the current needs (wider spaces and increased comfort) and to the local construction market (low skill workforce, poorly controlled material quality, diversity of materials). A good seismic behavior was, also, a target, because Romania is one of the most seismic prone countries in Europe. In order to satisfy these requirements, a team of researchers, an architect, and design and construction site engineers gathered and tested walls with a new structural system inspired from a certain traditional house type. The tests were conducted in-plane in static cyclic loading.Several parameters were tested on 8 distinct specimens: the layout of the timber elements and that of the screw nails. As a waypoint in the project, a layout that was deemed the most satisfying (by considering strength capacity and manufacture parameters), so three additional specimens were tested to check variation of the results on this layout. The paper presents the details of the proposed system and also the main seismic characterization parameters. The resulting best layout is to be proposed for a house, as an example project, in order to be used by the government for reconstruction in case of disaster recovery (earthquake, floods), but also for other interested parties.