Feasibility Study of a Novel Tall Concrete-Wood Hybrid System

In order to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry, structural high-rise solutions using sustainable construction practices and renewable materials need to be developed. This study investigated a novel hybrid structural system comprised of concrete and timber where concrete slabs at every third story provide the necessary stiffness and strength to resist gravity and lateral loads and the intermediate floors are constructed using light-frame wood modules to create the living spaces. Apart from reducing the building’s carbon footprint, the weight of the building is reduced considerably and, as a result, the seismic demand on the lateral load resisting system is reduced. The research presented in this paper evaluated the feasibility of the proposed hybrid concept and compares it to an ordinary concrete frame structure. A linear finite element model of the system captured the model response in terms of inter-story drift, base shear and the seismic demands in accordance with the design requirements of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC 2010). It indicates that the system meets the NBCC design performance requirements and has a lower seismic demand in terms of floor displacement and interstorey drift.