Ricerc@Sapienza

With the increasing demand for multi-storey timber buildings in areas with high wind loads and high seismic activity, stiff lateral load resisting systems are becoming a crucial design component. Post-tensioned Pres-Lam mass timber lift shafts and stairwell core walls not only provide a strong and very stiff lateral load resisting system, but also damage limiting response in the case of a large seismic event. This paper describes the results of experimental tests on Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Pres-Lam core walls tested under bi-directional quasi-static seismic loading.

Since 2010, twelve post-tensioned timber (Pres-Lam) buildings have been constructed throughout the world. The technology relies on unbonded post-tensioning tendons to provide moment capacity to beam-column, wall-foundation, or column-foundation connections. Supplemental energy dissipation can be introduced by mild steel bars or replaceable damping devices when designing buildings for high seismic risk areas. Creep within the timber elements leads to losses in post-tensioning force over time.