Traditional mortise and tenon timber frames have been used in modern construction for a substantial period of time with acceptable performance against weather phenomena and other hazards. However, performance criteria for this style of timber framing are not well defined in current codes and standards. To determine performance criteria for free-standing timber frames with knee-braces, three tasks were undertaken: (1) Two timber frame specimens were tested under cyclic loads to determine hysteretic behavior, damage states, and to explore rehabilitation of a damaged member using self-tapping screws. Three damage states for were identified: peg shear, tenon tearout, and post or beam splitting. Self-tapping screws were able to restore the strength of the 2-peg timber frame with the damaged beam, but not the stiffness of the frame. (2) Four timber frame mortise and tenon connection specimens were subjected to damp conditions for six months and then tested under monotonic tensile load to determine the effect of joint details. The results indicated that connection types tested had similar strength and stiffness. (3) Twelve free-standing timber frames with knee braces located at various sites across the United States were tested in the field under impulse loading to determine the fundamental period of vibration and to estimate damping. A relationship between the fundamental period and the mean roof height was fit to the test data using a power-law equation, and three sets of parameters were determined: a lower-bound equation for seismic loads, an upper-bound equation for wind loads, and mean equation for human-induced vibration performance criteria.

In recent years the public expectation of what is acceptable in seismic resisting construction has changed significantly. Engineers today live under demands which are far more intensive than their historical counterparts and recent seismic events have shown that preserving life is no longer sufficient, and a preservation of livelihood is now the minimum. This means that after a major seismic event a building should not only be intact but be usable with no or minimal post-quake intervention. In addition to this already high expectation these demands must be met in a green and sustainable fashion with minimal (or even negative) environmental impact. This doctoral project looks to further advance the research into a new and innovative method of timber construction which satisfies (and exceeds) these demands. In response to these higher expectations recent developments in the field of seismic design have led to the development of damage control design philosophies and innovative seismic resistant systems. Jointed ductile connections for precast concrete structures have been implemented and successfully validated. One of these systems, referred to as the hybrid system, combines the use of unbonded post-tensioned tendons with grouted longitudinal mild steel bars or any other form of dissipation reinforcing device. During the controlled rocking of the system under seismic loading the post-tensioning provides desirable recentering properties, while the devices allow adequate energy dissipation from the system as well as increased moment resistance at column bases and beam-column connections. The hybrid concept is material independent and in 2004 an extensive campaign was begun to investigate the performance of the hybrid system when applied to large engineered timber members. Numerous small and large scale tests on both subassemblies and full buildings were performed showing that post-tensioned timber meets the seismic resilience demands now imposed by society. Recently this technology has also been applied in practice with over ten structures now using post-tensioned timber walls or frames, or a combination of the two, in New Zealand. In-spite of the extensive research effort and the acceptance and adoption in practice of post-tensioned timber as a structural system, significant work was still required in the review and refinement of both the system itself and the analytical and numerical methods used to predict and analyse structural performance. The objectives of this research were to review and refine comprehension of the static and dynamic response, analytical and numerical modelling, and design of post-tensioned timber frames under lateral loading. In order to do this a three phase experimental testing campaign was devised and performed including quasi-static testing of an angle dissipative reinforcing device, quasi-static testing of a full-scale beam-column joint and the mono-directional dynamic testing of a 2/3rd scale three storey frame. All testing used glue laminated timber, which had not been previously used in post-tensioned timber structures. Insight gained from the experimental testing was used to analyse and refine existing analytical modelling techniques. These techniques were split into two categories: 1) modelling of the local behaviour of a post-tensioned timber beam-column joint, with particular focus on stiffness and energy dissipation capacity, and 2) evaluation of the seismic demand (in the form of design base shear) on post-tensioned timber frames looking at current Force Based (FBD) and Displacement Based (DBD) design methods. This analysis led to the development of recommended alterations in the existing beam-column joint analytical procedure enabling the procedure to provide better prediction of initial and post-yield stiffness. Analysis of the FBD and DBD procedures showed that both methods are capable of providing accurate prediction of seismic demand provided correct assumptions are made regarding system ductility and damping characteristics. Recommendations have been made on how designers can ensure that assumptions are either sufficiently accurate in the beginning of a design or require minimal iteration to be performed. Current numerical modelling techniques have also been compared against the quasi-static and dynamic testing results providing confidence in their accuracy when applied to post-tensioned timber frames. Modelling techniques were also extended to the widely used SAP2000 modelling programme which had not been previously used in post-tensioned timber research. Although many observations and conclusions were made, a common theme continued throughout this research. This was the importance of the deep understanding of displacements within a post-tensioned timber frame and the impact of these displacements on frame performance. Displacements occur throughout a frame in dissipative reinforcing devices, in the connection of these devices, in beams, columns and joint panels as well as at the interfaces between members. When these displacements are allowed for through proper design excellent seismic performance, possible using this innovative system, is obtained.

På senare tid har intresset för och viljan att bygga flerbostadshus i trä ökat och medfört en trend att bygga allt högre hus med stomme av trä. En aktör är Lindbäcks Bygg som bygger flerbostadshusi trä med volymelement och lätt regelstomme. Idag begränsas dock möjligt antal våningar med regelstomme till 6 – 8 våningar. Ett relativt nytt material inom träbyggnadstekniken är korslimmat trä (KL-trä) vars användning gjort det möjligt att bygga högre byggnader i trä. Examensarbetets syfte är att studera olika lösningar för hur Lindbäcks regelstomme kan förstärkas med KL-trä, vilket kan göra det möjligt att bygga allt högre flerbostadshus i trä. Samt att jämföra denna lösning med den idag använda regelstommen utan KL-trä. Studien har avgränsats till att enbart behandla ytterväggar. För att uppskatta rimliga laster på ytterväggar i en flervåningsbyggnad togs en principbyggnad (ihopsatt av ett antal volymelement) fram. I beräkningar tillämpades ett antal olika ytterväggstyper, en med den idag användaregelstommen (referensvägg) samt fem med regelstomme i kombination med KL-skivor i olika tjocklekar. För principbyggnaden kontrollerades genom beräkningar hur högt det är möjligt att bygga vid tillämpning av vardera ytterväggstyp. De olika ytterväggstyperna med KL-trä jämfördes även med referensytterväggen utifrån U-värde samt kostnad. Idag används KL-trä ibland av Lindbäcks och då som stabiliserande väggar. I deras fabriker tillämpas en lösning där KL-träskivorna fälls in mellan syll och hammarband tillsammans med reglarna. Beräkningar har visat att det, för principbyggnaden, med denna lösning är möjligt att bygga maximalt 2 våningar högre jämfört med referensytterväggen, detta för den bästa av ytterväggstypernaförstärkta med KL-trä. Det som begränsar ett högre antal våningar är trycket vinkelrätt fiberriktningen på syllen under KL-skivorna. Beräkningar visar att det finns en potential att med regelstomme förstärkt med KL-trä kunna bygga ännu högre om en annan lösning används där KL-träskivorna placeras på utsidan av syll, hammarband och reglar istället för infälld mellan syll och hammarband. Med denna lösning undviks tryck vinkelrätt fiberriktningen på syll under KL-skivor och KL-skivans kapacitet kan utnyttjas effektivare då normalkraftskapaciteten för själva skivan blir den begränsande faktorn för hur högt det går att bygga. Enligt beräkningar är det, för principbyggnaden, med denna lösning möjligt att bygga uppemot 8 våningar högre än med referensytterväggen. När KL-trä används i stommen ökar energiförlusterna genom väggen, dvs. U-värdet ökar, då reglar med mellanliggande isolering ersätts av KL-trä med sämre värmeledningsförmåga. Enligt beräkningar uppskattas U-värdet öka jmf. med för referensyttervägg, detta med ca. 20 – 40 % beroende på ytterväggstyp. Ökningen kan dock begränsas till ca. 0,4 – 14 % genom införande av ett 45 mm installationsskikt med isolering på väggens insida. Även kostnaden för ytterväggstyper med regelstomme förstärkt med KL-trä uppskattas öka jmf. med uppskattad kostnad för referensyttervägg. Detta med uppskattningsvis 40 – 50 %, vilket till huvudsak är en följd av ökad materialkostnad för KL-skivor som delvis ersätter reglar med mellanliggande isolering. / Today there is an increased interest in building taller buildings with timber. Lindbäcks Bygg is one of companies that uses modular construction with light timber stud frames. However, a problem with light timber frames is that the building height is limited to roughly 6 - 8 stories. A relatively new product in timber engineering is cross laminated timber (CLT) and the use of this product have made it possible to build taller timber buildings. The purpose of this study is to investigate different solutions for how Lindbäcks can strengthen their stud frames by using CLT and thereby build taller buildings. The difference with respect to U-value and cost between the walls strengthened width CLT and the typical stud frame wall, that is used today, is also studied. The study has been limited to exterior walls only. A multi-storey building consisting of several modules/volume elements has been used to estimate reasonable loads on the exterior walls. Different wall types, one with the ordinary stud frame (the reference wall) and five types of stud walls strengthened with different thicknesses of CLT, have been investigated. The maximal number of storeys that can be build, the U-value and the cost were determined by calculations for each of the studied wall types and were compared with the results for the reference wall. Today, Lindbäcks Bygg sometimes uses CLT for stabilizing walls. In their factories, they use a solution in which the CLT-plate is placed between the top and bottom plate together with the studs. According to the calculations it is, with this solution, possible to build up to 2 storeys higher then with the reference wall. The limiting factor for how high it is possible to build, is compression perpendicular to the grain on the bottom plate underneath the CLT-plate. If a solution where the CLT-plate is placed on the outside of the frame (consisting of studs, top and bottom plate) is used instead of between the top and bottom plate does the calculations show that a higher number of storeys is possible. With this solution, the compression perpendicular to the grain underneath the CLT-plate is avoided and the limiting factor is instead the compression strength of the CLT-plate. This means that the CLT can be used more efficiently. Calculations show that it is possible to build up to 8 storeys higher with this solution compared to what is possible with the reference wall. With CLT increases the energy losses through the wall, i.e. increased U-value, since studs with insulation in between is partially replaced with CLT that has worse thermal conductivity. According to the calculations, the U-value is 20 – 40 % higher (depending on the wall type) compared to the reference wall. The increase in U-value can be limited to 0.4 – 14 % by adding an extra layer with 45 mm insulation on the inside of the CLT-plate. The cost for the wall types strengthened with CLT is also higher compared to the estimated cost for the reference wall. The main reason for this is increased cost of materials since the studs with insulation in between is partially replaced with the more expensive CLT, which is an engineered wood product. The increase in cost is estimated to roughly 40 – 50 % of the cost for the reference wall.