Parametric analyses and feasibility study of moment-resisting timber frames under service load

• Published in: Engineering structures 2021-02, Vol.228, p.111583, Article 111583
• Main Authors: Vilguts, Aivars, Stamatopoulos, Haris, Malo, Kjell Arne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acceleration; Elastic analysis; Feasibility studies; Finite element method; Frames; Fundamental eigen-frequency; High rise buildings; Inter-story drift; Lateral displacement; Modal analysis; Mode shape; Moment-resisting timber frame; Parametric statistics; Resonant frequencies; Serviceability; Stiffness; Timber; Urbanization; Wind effects
• ISSN: 0141-0296; 1873-7323
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111583

•A parametric study of moment-resisting timber frames under service load is presented.•Wind-induced deformation and modal properties were quantified by elastic and modal analysis.•Non-linear regression was used to derive simplified expressions for the response of the frames.•The results show that frames with up to 8–10 storeys can fulfil the serviceability requirements. Over the last decades, the increasing urbanization and environmental challenges have created a demand for mid-rise and high-rise timber buildings in modern cities. The major challenge for mid-rise and high-rise timber buildings typically is the fulfillment of the serviceability requirements, especially limitation with respect to the wind-induced displacements and accelerations. The purpose of the present paper is to evaluate the feasibility and the limitations of moment-resisting timber frames under service load according to the present regulations. The parametric analyses investigate the effects of the rotational stiffness of beam-to-column and column-to-foundation connections, storey number and height, number and length of bays, column cross-section dimensions and spacing between frames on the overall serviceability performance of the frames. Elastic and modal analysis were carried out for a total of 17,800 planar moment-resisting timber frames with different parameters by use of Abaqus Finite Element (abbr. FE) software. Finally, the obtained results were used to derive simple expressions for the lateral displacement, maximum inter-story drift, fundamental eigen-frequency, mode shapes and acceleration.