Structural Characterization of Multi-Storey CLT Buildings Braced with Cores and Additional Shear Walls

The primary finding of work reported hereis that estimates of the principal vibrationperiods of buildings with Seismic Force ResistingSystems containing CLT wall panels can begrossly inaccurate if proper attention is notpaid to accurate representation of connectionstiffnesses. Estimates of T1 obtained using thesimple formula in Eurocode 8 can deviate greatlyfrom values found using finite element modelsemploying connection stiffnesses test data.Similarly finite element model predictions of T1in which connection stiffnesses are estimatedfrom information in Eurocode 5 can differ greatlyfrom values obtained using connection testdata. Inaccurate representation of connectionstiffnesses can also result in incorrect sizingof elements in SFRS, and gross inaccurate inpredictions of inter-storey drift. For thesereasons it is important that design standardsgive specific guidance related to determinationof initial stiffnesses as well as capacities ofconnections. A suitable calculation processfor design of connections is required basedNEW ZEALAND TIMBER DESIGN » JOURNAL VOL 24· ISSUE 2 on proposals here dealing with the structuralanalyses of CLT shear wall systems.