Strength of connection profiles used in cross-laminated timber walls under seismic load

Abstract

Cross-laminated wood (CLT) material, which has many advantages, has been widely used in architectural designs as a building element and building material in recent years. It has been proven that CLT can also show high performance against ground vibrations, but it is also mentioned in the literature that some problems such as rupture, snagging, and breaking occur in the elements used in the connections of the walls to the floor and the ground. This study was conducted to examine the performance of fasteners used in CLT walls against lateral load. In this context, 4 CLT walls were produced and then 5 metal profiles were designed to be used in the connection of these walls with the foundation ground. CLT wall and connection profiles, created according to ASTM E 72 standards, have been tested in an experimental setup with different detail options. According to the test results, it was observed that some of the CLT walls and connection profiles showed high performance at maximum load, displacement, and stiffness values. As a result, it has been determined that the resistance of the CLT material against lateral earthquake load can be increased with the right fasteners, and the collapse time of the structure in the event of an earthquake can be indirectly extended.