Damping of timber constructions in earthquake situation: materials, connections, and structures

Abstract Vibration damping is a complex physical phenomenon involving the dissipation of energy and is an essential dynamic property for ensuring the serviceability in wind conditions and resistance of structures to earthquakes. This study presents an evaluation of the damping of timber structures in earthquake situation. It is based on 798 free vibration tests of material, connection, and structure tests. The evaluation of damped free oscillations by fitting a theoretical viscous damping curve identifies the key variables that define damping. The results suggest that timber structures offer greater damping during an earthquake than reinforced concrete or steel. This is due to the connections, which have increased interfacial friction, thanks to a high coefficient of friction and a large pressing force of the connector. In addition, this study also highlights the affinity between the deformation part of the structural elements and their influence on global damping. Based on current knowledge and the results obtained, it offers higher damping values than those in current standards, depending on the type of structure. Finally, this work highlights the importance of further expanding the database of experimental damping measurements to develop a robust calculation model that also considers the contribution of non-structural elements and finishes.