Quasi-static tests on a two-story CLT building

Abstract

A two-story full-scale CLT building of 4.5 m x 9.1 m in plan, with a height of 5.04 m, was tested under quasi-static monotonic and cyclic loading for platform-type construction. The main objectives were to evaluate the global response of the structure, the performance of the shear walls, the behaviour of the connectors (hold-downs and angle brackets) and the frequency response of the structure during the tests. Lateral loads were applied on the storeys inducing torsion to the building. Loading procedure, number and disposition of connectors varied between tests. However, it is important to note that, in order to avoid a possible overlap of effects, the metal connectors hold-downs and angle-brackets only have been placed in CLT shear walls in each loading direction. In terms of performance, longitudinal direction presented a stiffer behaviour when compared to the transverse, where it was possible to verify greater sliding in the longitudinal direction and global rocking in the transverse direction. The results of this experimental campaign will be used for further analytical and numerical analyses, in order to help to implement more detailed seismic analysis, namely pushover, of CLT constructions.