An experimental and analytical study on rotational behavior of glulam beam-column moment connections with self-drilling dowels (SDDs) is conducted. Connection properties including strength, stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation were experimentally evaluated by testing seven full-scale connection specimens with and without self-tapping screw (STS) reinforcement along timber perpendicular to grain. All the connections showed high initial stiffness and high moment capacity when compared with the test results of bolted connections reported in the literature. The unreinforced connections had relatively low ductility due to timber splitting despite the increased fastener edge distance. The STS reinforcement effectively reduced the timber splitting tendency and encouraged the yielding of more SDDs, leading to slightly increased moment capacity, but significantly improved ductility. A modified analytical model (MAM) is then proposed to predict strength and rotation of the SDD moment connections based on force and moment equilibrium of the glulam members. Improved prediction accuracy is achieved for the SDD moment connections when compared with the past analytical methods.

This paper presents a direct displacement-based design (DDBD) approach for the buckling restrained braces (BRBs) braced glue-laminated timber (glulam) frame (BRBGF) structures. First, the critical design parameters of the DDBD approach were derived for BRBGFs. Then, using experimentally verified numerical models, pushover analyses and nonlinear time-history analyses (NLTHAs) were conducted on a series of one-storey BRBGFs to calibrate the stiffness adjustment factor λ for BRB-timber connections and the spectral displacement reduction factor η. Finally, the DDBD approach was verified as a prospective approach for the seismic design of multi-storey BRBGF buildings by NLTHAs of the case study buildings.

The present chapter examines different types of lateral-load-resisting systems (LLRSs) for taller timber buildings (TTBs). The LLRSs are presented with specific reference to their role in the seismic response of TTBs, and have been classified according to the main structural elements composing them. Therefore, timber-framed LLRSs, consisting of one-dimensional members, are first examined, followed by panelised LLRSs, featuring two-dimensional elements; mixed timber-framed and panelised LLRSs are then addressed. Next, hybrid timber-steel and -concrete, as well as volumetric modular LLRSs, are presented. Finally, a separate section is dedicated to the interaction of timber diaphragms with LLRSs in TTBs. Besides a comprehensive literature review, for each LLRS type, relevant examples of buildings realized in practice have been reported. In the final section, based on the analysed research studies from literature, the main future challenges and research directions for an effective, holistic design of LLRSs in TTBs, are addressed.