Seismic performance of timber structures using rocking walls with low damage hold-down connectors

Abstract

Modern seismic-resistant timber structures are designed in a way that the massive timber elements remain elastic, and the earthquake-induced damage is localised in the connections. However, these connections may experience large plastic deformations which usually is accompanied by crushing of the surrounding wood. These plastic deformations make the structure vulnerable to aftershocks and future events. Furthermore, the expected residual deformation in the connections and members could make the structure unusable after a large seismic event. As a result, researchers and engineers are developing new concepts and structural systems that can provide life-safety performance while minimize the earthquake damage. This paper investigates the seismic performance of timber structures with rocking walls that use low damage re-centring hold-down connections. These friction-based connections can dissipate the earthquake energy without significant damage while providing a re-centring potential for the structure. The proposed structural system is described, and then a numerical model for a case study structure is developed and subjected to non-linear analyses. Furthermore, the performance of the designed structure is compared with similar structures that use simple friction dampers and conventional fasteners. The results showed that the proposed structural system has a superior seismic performance and can potentially be considered as an option for the use in modern seismic-resistant timber structures.