Seismic performance of Chinese traditional timber frames

Chinese traditional timber frames are known for their mortise-tenon joints and wooden planks shear walls. To investigate the seismic behavior of the structural system, three full-scale timber frames were subjected to in-plane quasi-static loading. The hysteresis characteristics, lateral load-carrying capacities, lateral stiffnesses, and energy dissipation capacities of the timber frames were investigated. The results showed that the hysteretic loops of all specimens exhibited pinching, and the column and beam components were nearly intact after the test. The traditional wooden frames had large deformability. The installation of the infilled timber shear wall brought great improvements in lateral resistance and energy dissipation to the bare frames. The initial stiffness of the timber frame infilled with timber shear wall was 0.113 kN/mm, which was 56.9% and 11.9% greater than those of the bare frame specimen F1 and specimen F2, respectively. The results from the experimental analyses can serve as a technical basis for the development of seismic design methods and strengthening designs of such structures in practical engineering.

Lateral resistance of mass timber shear wall connected by withdrawal-type connectors

In this study, the lateral resistances of mass timber shear walls were investigated for seismic design. The lateral resistances were predicted by kinematic models with mechanical properties of connectors, and compared with experimental data. Four out of 7 shear wall specimens consisted of a single Ply-lam panel and withdrawal-type connectors. Three out of 7 shear wall specimens consisted of two panels made by dividing a single panel in half. The divided panels were connected by 2 or 4 connectors like a single panel before being divided. The applied vertical load was 0, 24, or 120 kN, and the number of connectors for connecting the Ply-lam wall-to-floor was 2 or 4. As a result, the tested data were 6.3 to 52.7% higher than the predicted value by kinematic models, and it means that the lateral resistance can be designed by the behavior of the connector, and the prediction will be safe. The effects of wall-to-wall connectors, wall-to-floor connectors and vertical loads on the shear wall were analyzed with the experimental data.