Wind-induced vibration serviceability of ten multi-storey timber buildings

Multi-storey timber buildings are prone to wind-induced vibrations, especially due to their lightweight nature, which can lead to occupant discomfort. Vibration serviceability may be a critical design criterion for such structures. In this study, the occupant comfort due to peak accelerations of wind-induced vibrations is estimated for ten European timber and hybrid timber buildings, ranging in height from 22 m to 74 m, using data on their dimensions, mass, and modal properties. The peak accelerations were computed in accordance with EN 1991-1-4:2005 and checked against ISO 10137 comfort criterion. Parametric analysis revealed that the location of the building significantly influences the expected wind-induced peak accelerations. Among the shape parameters, the radius of the rounded edges had the most substantial impact. It was found that increasing the stiffness of the building is more effective for enhancing comfort in shorter buildings, whereas adding mass is more beneficial for taller buildings. The analysis also included the current world's tallest timber building, demonstrating the potential for constructing even taller timber structures with good occupant comfort in strong winds.