Experimental Investigation of the Repairability of a Cantilever Cross-Laminated Timber Diaphragm
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 38, Issue 5
Abstract
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) has gained considerable interest in recent years as a low-carbon alternative to steel and concrete in construction. While CLT structures are designed to withstand extreme events, such as strong earthquake shaking, without collapsing, the aspect of postevent repairability is not explicitly addressed in current US design codes. This study thoroughly investigated the repairability of a previously tested () cantilever CLT diaphragm that was damaged from reversed cyclic loading. Inspection and assessment of each of the components and connections indicated that the damage was localized to the connections (glulam-to-CLT screws and CLT-to-CLT surface splines), and the damaged diaphragm was deemed repairable. The repair strategy was intended to restore the capacity of the postrepaired diaphragm to the design strength of the initial undamaged diaphragm by replacing the damaged fasteners and surface splines with new connections. The repaired diaphragm was subsequently retested. The test results showed that the repaired diaphragm displayed slightly higher peak strength and comparable deformation capacity when compared to the initial diaphragm. This research underscores the potential viability of repairing damaged CLT diaphragms for performance restoration. However, further testing that encompasses other diaphragm configurations and varied fastener types may be needed to develop more comprehensive and effective repair strategies.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The experiments and analyses presented herein were partially supported by the Clemson Wood Utilization + Design Institute, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Services, and the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities Grant No. E17-96. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations presented in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the USDA’s views and the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities.
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© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 12, 2023
Accepted: Apr 29, 2024
Published online: Jul 27, 2024
Published in print: Oct 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Dec 27, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Beams
- Building materials
- Cantilevers
- Connections (structural)
- Construction (by type)
- Construction engineering
- Construction methods
- Diaphragms (structural)
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Laminating
- Materials engineering
- Materials processing
- Rehabilitation
- Steel construction
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
- Wood and wood products
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