Full-Scale Tests and Numerical Analysis of Low-Rise CLT Structures under Lateral Loading

This study examines the mechanical performance of large and small cross-laminated timber (CLT) wall panels with different applications. Two CLT structures were subjected to reversed cyclic lateral loads. One structure consisted of 90-mm-thick, large CLT wall panels (6×2.7 m), and the other consisted of 90-mm-thick, small CLT wall panels (1×2.7 m). A weight was installed on the roof of two-story structures to simulate the weight of three-story structures, designed by elastic calculations with a base shear coefficient of 1.0. The number of screws for each joint was determined by a linear finite-element method (FEM) analysis. The experimental results showed that the ultimate capacity of these structures is 60–80% higher than the design load, indicating high structural performance. A three-dimensional, nonlinear analysis was conducted via the FEM, which accurately predicted the mechanical performance of the CLT structures. This design procedure, based on linear analysis, resulted in a conservative design, and simulation using the nonlinear FEM provided an effective tool for design optimization.