Seismic Design and Performance of Timber Structures

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 August 2023) | Viewed by 15825

Special Issue Editors

Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), University of Minho, 4800-058 Braga, Portugal
Interests: timber engineering; wood and wood-based materials; timber joints; seismic design; reinforcement; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Interests: timber structures; steel structures; earthquake engineering; finite element analysis; nonlinear analysis; structural dynamics; seismic vulnerability of constructions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Every year, earthquakes cause damage and destroy a sizeable portion of the building stock across the globe. Among traditional constructions, those built with timber are considered the most effective earthquake-resistant structures, provided that the continuity in the load path is not compromised, the joints are intact, and moisture-induced problems are kept at bay. On the other hand, in the last decade, a large variety of timber building systems has been developed in Europe that complements traditional timber frame buildings. The performance and advancement of innovative timber building systems in case of earthquake loading must be investigated, while great lessons can be taken from traditional constructions that are commonly accepted as seismic-resistant.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect results and to promote discussion and developments from recent research related to timber elements used to build new structures or to reinforce those existing in seismic-prone areas.

Dr. Jorge Manuel Branco
Dr. Beatrice Faggiano
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • timber structures
  • seismic design
  • traditional construction
  • innovative systems
  • retrofitting
  • connections, shear walls
  • research and practice

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

17 pages, 4375 KiB  
Article
Seismic Performance and LCA Comparison between Concrete and Timber–Concrete Hybrid Buildings
by Xiaoyue Zhang, Wanru Huang, Mehdi Khajehpour, Mehrdad Asgari and Thomas Tannert
Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1714; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071714 - 05 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1492
Abstract
The growing demand for energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable building materials has led to an increasing interest in hybrid timber-concrete construction. These structures combine the advantages of the two materials, potentially reducing the carbon footprint, shortening construction timelines, and improving seismic and building physics [...] Read more.
The growing demand for energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable building materials has led to an increasing interest in hybrid timber-concrete construction. These structures combine the advantages of the two materials, potentially reducing the carbon footprint, shortening construction timelines, and improving seismic and building physics performance. Herein the structural and environmental performance of ten-story timber-concrete hybrid and a pure concrete building, designed for the Guizhou Province, China, were compared. The structural analysis revealed a significant reduction in the self-weight and base shear of the hybrid structure. The life-cycle analysis demonstrated that the hybrid building outperformed the concrete building in six categories, including global warming potential, acidification potential, human health particulate, eutrophication potential, ozone depletion potential, and photochemical ozone formation potential. Notably, the hybrid building exhibited nearly 65% lower emissions in terms of global warming potential. Moreover, the inclusion of wood components offered the added benefit of carbon storage throughout their lifespan. These findings provide compelling support for the development and implementation of high-rise timber-based hybrid buildings in China. The advantages observed in both structural and environmental aspects encourage the adoption of this innovative construction approach, contributing to sustainable and eco-friendly building practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seismic Design and Performance of Timber Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 9856 KiB  
Article
Numerical Analysis of Masonry-Infilled RC-CLT Panel Connections
by Zabih Mehdipour, Elisa Poletti, Jorge M. Branco and Paulo B. Lourenço
Buildings 2022, 12(11), 2009; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12112009 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1203
Abstract
CLT panels have been investigated for reinforcement of existing masonry-infilled RC framed buildings through the increase of the overall lateral stiffness of the structure, thus reducing the story drift demand. The contribution of CLT panels depends on the connection to the RC frame [...] Read more.
CLT panels have been investigated for reinforcement of existing masonry-infilled RC framed buildings through the increase of the overall lateral stiffness of the structure, thus reducing the story drift demand. The contribution of CLT panels depends on the connection to the RC frame elements. This paper evaluates the role of connectors by which CLT is attached to RC frames for capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation of the structure and its elements separately using different kinds of RC-CLT connections, and ultimately finds and compares the optimum number and arrangement of connectors. The results show that the geometry of connections plays a greater seismic role in RC frames than their mechanical properties. Regarding masonry infills, they allow a higher strength capacity but reduce the efficacy of CLT strengthening. However, strong connectors decrease the ability of infills in dissipation. Finally, in the optimum arrangement of connectors, they are distributed equally along the upper and lower beams at equal spacing, where CLT is added, starting in the middle of the beams and moving to the frame corners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seismic Design and Performance of Timber Structures)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

25 pages, 5307 KiB  
Article
Numerical Analysis of the Seismic Performance of Light-Frame Timber Buildings Using a Detailed Model
by Franco Benedetti, Alan Jara-Cisterna, Juan Carlos Grandón, Nicool Astroza and Alexander Opazo-Vega
Buildings 2022, 12(7), 981; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12070981 - 10 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2108
Abstract
Timber structures have gained interest for the construction of mid-rise buildings, but their seismic performance is still a matter under development. In this study, a numerical analysis of the seismic performance of light-frame timber buildings is developed through a highly detailed model using [...] Read more.
Timber structures have gained interest for the construction of mid-rise buildings, but their seismic performance is still a matter under development. In this study, a numerical analysis of the seismic performance of light-frame timber buildings is developed through a highly detailed model using parallel computing tools. All of the lateral-load-resisting system components and connections are modeled. Combinations of lateral load capacity distributions in structures of one, three, and five stories are studied in order to assess the effects on the global performance of different triggered failure modes through nonlinear static and dynamic analyses. The results suggest that shear bracket connections and sheathing-to-framing connections control the buildings’ responses, as well as the failure mode. For a ductile response, the lateral displacement must be dominated by the in-plane wall distortion (racking); therefore, the system must be provided with a story shear sliding stiffness and load capacity at least twice that of the walls. Furthermore, based on the pushover capacity curves, the performance limits are proposed by evaluating the stiffness degradation. Finally, the effect of the mobilized failure mode on the structural fragility is analyzed. Even though standard desktop PCs are used in this research, significant reductions in the computation effort are achieved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seismic Design and Performance of Timber Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 9664 KiB  
Article
Ductile Moment-Resisting Timber Connections: A Review
by Arthur S. Rebouças, Zabih Mehdipour, Jorge M. Branco and Paulo B. Lourenço
Buildings 2022, 12(2), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12020240 - 19 Feb 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6819
Abstract
In the last two decades, high-rise timber buildings have been built using the glulam truss system, even with limited openings. Moment-resisting timber frames (MRTF) with semi-rigid beam-to-column connections can be an architecture-friendly way to provide a load-carrying system to vertical and horizontal loads [...] Read more.
In the last two decades, high-rise timber buildings have been built using the glulam truss system, even with limited openings. Moment-resisting timber frames (MRTF) with semi-rigid beam-to-column connections can be an architecture-friendly way to provide a load-carrying system to vertical and horizontal loads for timber buildings. In these structures, connections of adequate ductility are crucial to ensure robustness and energy dissipation. This paper presents a review of the main types of timber beam–column moment connections with improved ductility and proposes to carry out a ductility assessment of these connections based on the most relevant ductility factors. Joints have a significant influence on the global performance of MRTF, and the application of ductile connections have improved the mechanical parameters of the timber frame. The reinforced bolted slotted-in steel plate and glued-in rods connections have similar mechanical performance, with high rotation capacity and good ultimate moment, but exhibited different failure modes under cyclic loading. The connections were classified within ductility classes. In general, the glued-in steel rods presented better results because of the high influence of steel profiles in the connection yielding. Despite the excellent mechanical behavior, the reinforced bolted slotted-in steel plate connections presented medium ductility values. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seismic Design and Performance of Timber Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

38 pages, 27808 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Seismic Capacity of Existing Masonry Buildings by Retrofitting Timber Floors: Wood-Based Solutions as a Dissipative Alternative to Rigid Concrete Diaphragms
by Michele Mirra and Geert Ravenshorst
Buildings 2021, 11(12), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11120604 - 01 Dec 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2591
Abstract
The inadequate seismic performance of existing masonry buildings is often linked to the excessively low in-plane stiffness of timber diaphragms and the poor quality of their connections to the walls. However, relevant past studies and seismic events have also shown that rigid diaphragms [...] Read more.
The inadequate seismic performance of existing masonry buildings is often linked to the excessively low in-plane stiffness of timber diaphragms and the poor quality of their connections to the walls. However, relevant past studies and seismic events have also shown that rigid diaphragms could be detrimental for existing buildings and do not necessarily lead to an increase in their seismic performance. Therefore, this work explores the opportunity of optimizing the retrofitting of existing timber floors by means of a dissipative strengthening option, consisting of a plywood panel overlay. On the basis of past experimental tests and previously formulated analytical and numerical models for simulating the in-plane response of these retrofitted diaphragms, in this work nonlinear incremental dynamic analyses were performed on three case–study buildings. For each structure three configurations were analyzed: an as-built one, one having floors retrofitted with concrete slabs and one having dissipative diaphragms strengthened with plywood panels. The results showed that the additional beneficial hysteretic energy dissipation of the optimized diaphragms is relevant and can largely increase the seismic performance of the analyzed buildings, while rigid floors only localize the dissipation in the walls. These outcomes can contribute to an efficient seismic retrofitting of existing masonry buildings, demonstrating once more the great potential of wood-based techniques in comparison to the use of reinforced concrete for creating rigid diaphragms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seismic Design and Performance of Timber Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop