Failure mechanisms in CLT shearwalls with cut-out openings

Review of the existing literature on monolithic CLT shear walls with openings reveals that a notable gap in knowledge on the panel failure modes still exists. A very limited number of shearwall specimens involved failure in the CLT panel, and understanding of how such failure mechanism can impact the overall behaviour of shearwalls is yet to be fully established. This study presents an experimental investigation on 12 monolithic CLT shearwalls with a single opening (e.g. door or window opening) designed to reach failure in the CLT panel. The test results were predicted by means of numerical models. All shearwalls tested exhibited crack initiation in the lintel or parapet as an initial failure while the ultimate failure occurred in the hold-down. Two different scenarios for crack propagation were observed with significant impact on the behaviour of the wall. The numerical prediction was reasonable in terms of the overall wall behaviour and load–displacement curves, as well as the opening and propagation of cracks in the CLT panels.