Stiffness of Experimentally Tested Horizontally Loaded Walls and Timber-Framed Modular Building

Area of Science:

• Structural Engineering
• Timber Construction
• Building Physics

Background:

• Recent advancements in timber-based structures necessitate comprehensive testing of modular building systems.
• Existing research often focuses on laboratory-scale testing of timber-framed elements, particularly for anchoring and cyclic loading.
• There is a need for full-scale experimental data on the performance of timber-framed modular buildings under realistic load conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally evaluate the structural performance of full-scale timber-framed wall elements and a modular building.
• To determine the stiffness characteristics of individual wall panels and the complete four-storey modular building.
• To analyze the interaction between modules and the influence of wall connections on the overall three-dimensional structural behavior.

Main Methods:

• Two-stage experimental testing on full-scale timber-framed wall elements and a four-storey modular building, following EN 594 standards.
• Application of horizontal loads at the top of the walls, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the modules.
• Utilized dowel fasteners for sheathing attachment and glue for sheathing-to-frame connections.

Main Results:

• Derived stiffness values for individual wall panels and the entire modular building based on experimental data.
• Investigated the interaction mechanisms between adjacent modules within the structure.
• Quantified the influence of wall connections on the spatial (3D) performance of the building.

Conclusions:

• The overall horizontal stiffness of the complete modular building was found to be significantly higher than the sum of its individual wall stiffnesses.
• The study provides crucial data on the stiffness and interaction behavior of timber-framed modular structures.
• Findings contribute to the understanding and development of robust timber-based construction methods.