Previous tests carried out on post-tensioned timber walls focused on small scale (one-third) specimens with the main objective of evaluating the general response of the system. The main objective of the experimental program herein presented is the testing and estimating of the response of a series two-third scale post-tensioned walls, with alternative arrangements and combination of dissipaters and post-tensioning, focusing on the construction details adopted in real practice.
The paper first presents a brief discussion on the seismic demand evaluation based on the Displacement-Based Design approach. The construction detailing of the steel dissipater connections, post-tensioning anchorage and shear keys are then presented.
The main objectives of the experimental program were the investigation of the experimental behaviour of large scale post-tensioned timber walls, with particular focus on the system connection detailing and optimization of post-tensioning anchorage, fastening of the dissipation devices and shear keys. The program consisted of several quasi-static cyclic tests considering different steel dissipater configurations, different levels of post-tensioning initial stress and different dissipater options were considered: both internal and external mild steel tension-compression yield devices were used.
The experimental results showed the performance of post-tensioned timber wall systems which provide high level of dissipation while showing negligible residual displacements and negligible damage to the wall element.
The final part of the paper presents the experimental evaluation of the area-based hysteretic damping for the tested specimens and the results highlight the great influence of the connection detailing of the dissipaters.