Aiming a comprehensive analysis of laterally loaded cross laminated
timber (CLT) wall systems, the present thesis discusses two core topics.
Initially, the evaluation and approximation of timber connection
properties are spotted. In particular, basing on an extensive discussion
of already available methods, alternatives for determining the initial
stiffness and ductility of timber joints are proposed. Furthermore, a
capable displacement-based approach, able to approximate the entire
course of even complex load-displacement relationships, is developed.
Subsequently,
the focus is set on CLT wall systems. Besides a summary of currently
applied calculation models, a new displacement-based method for
predicting the load-displacement behaviour of wall diaphragms is
proposed. In order to consider the nonlinear behaviour of connections,
the afore-developed continuous function is used. The quality of the
suggested wall model is verified by experimental results gathered from
full scale wall tests, conducted at three independent research
facilities. Within the last part of the thesis it is examined how
several factors as, e.g., the wall length, vertical joints, used
connections or the vertical load may affect the behaviour of CLT wall
systems. Moreover, different approaches for determining the lateral load
distribution on CLT wall diaphragms within one floor are discussed.