Behaviour of the Cross-Laminated Timber diaphragm subjected to in-plane loading

• Author / Creator

  Fakhrzarei, Mahboobeh

• The main objective of this study was to develop an analytical model for predicting the diaphragm
  deflection and the induced shear force at the panel joints when the applied load is perpendicular to
  the panel length. An equivalent finite-element model was developed to capture the elastic behavior
  of the diaphragm made from the panels and the connections in between. The analytical model’s
  predictions were compared with predictions from finite-element models. The results of an
  experimental test were used to partially validate the analytical and numerical models in the absence
  of full-scale diaphragm test data. A sensitivity analysis was carried out with the aim of finding the
  most influential parameters in the behaviour of the CLT diaphragm. The connection’s stiffness and
  diaphragm size were varied. The difference in diaphragm deflection was investigated, and it was
  found that under realistic material properties and geometry, the diaphragm deflection was not
  strongly related to the connection’s stiffness. However, the floor’s geometry was the key
  influencing parameter. A parametric study was performed, and the contribution of each deflection
  component was quantified for each specific case. It was observed that the floor’s flexibility was
  dominated mainly by the shear deflection of the cross-laminated timber panels as well as the slip
  in the panel joints as the length of the diaphragm increased. This study proposes a method that
  designers may use to estimate the in-plane displacement of the cross-laminated timber diaphragm
  when it is loaded perpendicular to the panel’s joints.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Analytical model development
  • CLT diaphragms

• Graduation date

  Fall 2023

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-7h04-cq02

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.