Seismic resistance analysis of a plywood house structure based on ABAQUS fracture mechanics

Abstract

Plywood is a more affordable material for the residential construction industry due to its lower cost and easy availability. However, earthquakes are the biggest barrier for wood structures to stand for a long time, as the materials can easily deform or collapse when subjected to seismic forces. This paper aims to explore the performance of plywood structures during an active earthquake by conducting a series of tests and simulations. In this study, plywood property was explored in the four-point bending experiment to determine its stress-strain relationship, and the results were used to identify the materials young modulus, a key parameter for designing more resilient structures. In addition, a finite element model of a plywood house structure was developed in the ABAQUS application, and the seismic movements with five different velocity values were applied to determine the stress distribution and deflections of the structure. The results provide insights into the dynamic behavior of plywood structures under different seismic movements.