Material-based models for post-tensioned shear wall system with energy dissipators

Abstract

The Prestressed-Laminated timber system, Pres-Lam, developed in New Zealand, is a low damage innovative wood-hybrid system that utilizes post-tensioned (PT) mass timber components along with various types of energy dissipators. In addition to testing, numerical modelling is another important approach used to investigate the structural performance of Pres-Lam system. In this study, a material-based modelling method was proposed to investigate the seismic performance of Pres-Lam cross-laminated timber (CLT) wall system. Correspondingly, specific material-based numerical models were developed for PT-only and Pres-Lam CLT walls in general purpose finite element software package, ABAQUS. Only the material and geometrical properties of panels, connections and energy dissipators are required as inputs for the material-based models. These models are different from other current simplified numerical models by the fact that they can eliminate the time- and resource-consuming wall tests for the models’ calibration, and also can predict the structural performance of the Pres-Lam CLT wall system to complete failure which is challenging to obtain by testing. The response of the developed models agreed well with the experimental results of all tested wall configurations. The influence of PT force level, aspect ratio of the wall panel, and spacing and number of energy dissipating devices on the response of the system was investigated using the developed models. The material-based models provide structural engineers and researchers with a cost-effective method for the analysis and design of the Pres-Lam CLT shear walls. The analysis results will form the basis for developing future design guidelines for PT-only and Pres-Lam mass timber systems under in-plane lateral loads.