Seismic performance modeling of prefabricated hollow timber block shear wall structures

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanical behavior and numerical modeling of lightweight hollow block timber shear wall systems for seismic performance evaluation. Compression tests on panel materials and pull-out tests on threaded stainless-steel rod connections were conducted to characterize the mechanical properties of key structural components. The experimental results revealed significant anisotropy in bamboo composite panels, with compressive strength in the transverse direction reaching approximately 47–48 MPa, while the parallel configuration exhibited lower strength values of 9–12 MPa. Pull-out tests showed that increasing the embedment length from 120 to 150 mm improved post-slip stability and delayed the onset of rigid-body motion, although no clear monotonic increase in peak load was observed. Based on the experimental results, both detailed fiber models and simplified numerical models were developed in OpenSees. The simplified model using the Seismic Analysis of Woodframe Structures (SAWS) material successfully reproduced the cyclic load–displacement behavior of the shear walls while significantly reducing computational cost compared with the fiber model. Time-history analyses of a three-story lightweight structure demonstrated that the proposed modeling method can effectively predict structural displacement responses under peak ground accelerations ranging from 0.1 g to 0.5 g. The proposed approach provides an efficient analytical framework for seismic performance assessment and design of lightweight timber structures.

Keywords

Hollow block shear wall / Connections / Numerical modeling / Seismic performance / Opensees / SAWS model

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