Earthquake resistant timber panelised structures with resilient connections. (December 2020) - Hashemi, Ashkan
Abstract: Timber panelised structures with platform style of construction are favoured by engineers and researchers due to their positive characteristics such as straightforward installation process, relatively high strength to mass ratio and architecturally favoured properties. In the platform style of construction, floors are stacked on top of each other so that each level is constructed on load-bearing walls, creating a platform for the next floor. Recent researches on timber platform buildings made with conventional connectors demonstrated that the connections might experience extensive damages under design level earthquakes. This paper presents a low damage concept for mass timber platform systems using resilient connections as replacements of conventional connectors. A numerical model for the presented system is developed for a Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) platform building. The methodology used was to investigate the seismic performance of the proposed concept through a case study structure modelled in SAP2000. Quasi-static pushover and nonlinear dynamic time-history analyses are performed on the structure. The results showed that the system maintained its performance through several cycles of deformation. Moreover, the system is capable of absorbing a notable amount of energy while exhibiting a recentring capacity. The results of this study demonstrated that the presented concept could be considered for further developments for the application in CLT panelised buildings in seismic prone regions.