Structural behaviour of log timber walls under lateral in-plane loads

Abstract

The present works intends to represent a further step in the knowledge of timber log-houses through an experimental approach, from which only few information is available. The main part of the experimental work is based on in-plane static tests conducted on timber log walls with distinct transversal stiffness, two vertical compression levels and different values of slenderness. Monotonic and cyclic tests were performed according to EN 12512:2001. The former were performed to define the elastic slip values and assessment of the failure mechanisms while the latter allowed for the evaluation of the impairment of strength, the measurement of the ductility and the quantification the energy dissipation. Previously to the full-scale tests of walls, an extensive characterization of the timber logs was made. Due to its importance, the connection between the first timber log and the basement was also evaluated through tests. In a second step of the research, a case study was used to develop a numeric analysis. Using FEM, the in-plane stiffness of timber logs walls was quantified, thus allowing to compare the result of distributing the horizontal loads by the walls according to their area of influence or their in-plane stiffness. Finally, improvements to the log system analyzed were suggested.