Shake table testing for system effects analysis in a 1:2 scale three-story light frame timber building

This study investigates the impact of system effects on the dynamic behavior of light frame timber buildings (LFTBs) through shake table tests and numerical analysis. Here, the term “system effects” encompasses the influence of the transverse shear walls, the out-of-plane bending stiffness of the diaphragms, and the gravity load, particularly in LFTBs with non-planar shear walls. The findings of this research reveal that system effects notably reduce story drift demands and enhance the lateral stiffness and damping ratio of LFTBs with respect to results from numerical models that do not consider component interactions. This observation highlights a discrepancy between the actual lateral stiffness and that predicted by existing models, particularly at relatively small levels of story drift. The underestimation of these engineering parameters is more apparent at the lower stories, underscoring the significant role of the gravity load in amplifying the beneficial effects of the transverse shear walls and the out-of-plane bending stiffness of the diaphragms. These insights are vital to refine the seismic design and analysis of LFTBs and underscore the importance of incorporating system effects into both numerical and analytical models. This enhanced understanding of component interactions in LFTBs sets the stage for increasing adoption of LFTBs as a sustainable and resilient building solution in earthquake-prone areas.