SUMMARY Multi‐storey buildings made of cross‐laminated timber panels (X‐lam) are becoming a stronger and economically valid alternative in Europe compared with traditional masonry or concrete buildings. During the design process of these multi‐storey buildings, also their earthquake behaviour has to be addressed, especially in seismic‐prone areas such as Italy. However, limited knowledge on the seismic performance is available for this innovative massive timber product. On the basis of extensive testing series comprising monotonic and reversed cyclic tests on X‐lam panels, a pseudodynamic test on a one‐storey X‐lam specimen and 1D shaking table tests on a full‐scale three‐storey specimen, a full‐scale seven‐storey building was designed according to the European seismic standard Eurocode 8 and subjected to earthquake loading on a 3D shaking table. The building was designed with a preliminary action reduction factor of three that had been derived from the experimental results on the three‐storey building. The outcomes of this comprehensive research project called ‘SOFIE – Sistema Costruttivo Fiemme’ proved the suitability of multi‐storey X‐lam structures for earthquake‐prone regions. The buildings demonstrated self‐centring capabilities and high stiffness combined with sufficient ductility to avoid brittle failures. The tests provided useful information for the seismic design with force‐based methods as defined in Eurocode 8, that is, a preliminary experimentally based action reduction factor of three was confirmed. Valid, ductile joint assemblies were developed, and their importance for the energy dissipation in buildings with rigid X‐lam panels became evident. The seven‐storey building showed relatively high accelerations in the upper storeys, which could lead to secondary damage and which have to be addressed in future research. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Composite concrete–timber building and bridge structures are gaining in importance throughout the world. The approach is to pour fresh concrete over the timber. Mechanical linkage between hardened concrete and timber is provided through keyed indentations in the timber or various sorts of mechanical fasteners inserted in the timber before the concrete is poured. The technique is commented on from research and design points of view.

This paper reports on the outcomes of an experimental test performed on a fullscale building constructed using innovative technology. The experimental results are compared with the outcomes of a numerical analysis with the aim to derive the behaviour factor q used in a simplified elastic design of the building under seismic actions.

The paper reports the results of a comprehensive experimental test performed on a 6 m span timber-concrete composite beam with glued re-bar connection. The beam had first been subjected to sustained load in unsheltered outdoor conditions for 5 years. Eventually a ramp loading test up to failure was performed. The long-term test showed an increase in deflection mainly during the first two years, while the slip rose during the whole testing period. Thermohygrometric variations of environment caused an important fluctuation of all quantities on both yearly and daily scale. By comparing experimental and analytical results, it is highlighted that composite beams in outdoor conditions should be assigned to the 3rd service class according to the Eurocode 5 (EC5). Analytical predictions based on approximate formulae suggested by such regulation are found to be not conservative for the long-term behaviour and fairly accurate for the collapse behaviour. Since the simplified formulae proposed by the latest versions of the EC5-Parts 1.1 and 2 largely underestimate the actual connection stiffness and strength, it is recommended that realistic values of these properties, such as those obtained through push-out tests, be used when designing timber-concrete composite beams

This paper presents the results of an extensive experimental programme on typical cross-laminated timber (CLT) screwed connections conducted at CNR-IVALSA research institute. In-plane monotonic and cyclic shear and withdrawal tests were performed on screwed wall-to-wall, floor-to-floor and wall-to-floor CLT connections. Mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness, energy dissipation, ductility ratio and impairment of strength were evaluated. The experimental results showed good performance of CLT screwed joints under cyclic loads when ductile behaviour was achieved. Brittle response occurred only in cases where requirements for end and edge distances were not satisfied. The experimental characteristic shear strength and mean slip modulus of the connections were compared with values obtained using analytical design equations. The Eurocode 5 (EC5) formulas overestimated the characteristic strength values in some cases, while the Uibel and Blaß formulas specifically developed for CLT connections provided more accurate and conservative predictions. In cases where brittle failures were attained, the analytical values overestimated the experimental ones. This issue can be avoided when the requirements for minimum edge and end distances stated by EC5 are fulfilled. EC5 empirical formulas for the prediction of the screw connection slip modulus at serviceability limit state corresponded well with the experimental elastic values. The overstrength factor, which is of great importance in capacity-based design, was also evaluated, and a conservative value of 1.6 can be recommended for screwed CLT connections.

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT, XLAM) is a product extremely well suited for multi-storey buildings because of its versatility. With lengths up to 16 meters and the possibility of extending with mechanical joints or glued connections, widths of up to 2.5 meters depending on manufacturer and thicknesses up to 500 mm, almost any necessary shape can be found on the market today. Developments are still going on rapidly and new possibilities and new applications far from being exhausted. One such new possibility is the use of CLT elements in a combination with a concrete core and structural outriggers in very high buildings, a 'wood-concrete skyscraper'. CLT has already been shown to be very efficient in multi-storey buildings up to 10 storeys. In this paper, an analysis is given of how a concrete core and CLT walls can be used to design very tall buildings in the range of up to 150 meters, but for more than 80% made of timber products. Timber can become an alternative in rapidly expanding cities, where there is a need for high apartment buildings. The building layout uses outriggers at certain intervals, integrated tension cables and CLT structural wall elements in the facades. The design makes optimal use of the advantages of light-weight building elements with comparable structural performance as traditional concrete elements. Savings during the erection stage in terms of money and time are highlighted as well as the CO2 emissions of such a building in comparison with concrete. A concept of the building has been analysed for the location of Shanghai according to the Chinese wind load specifications