In this study, the vibration serviceability of multi-storey timber buildings is addressed. The core of this study pertains to the preparation of a comprehensive finite element model to predict modal properties for an accurate vibration serviceability checking. To that end, findings obtained from studying three multi-storey timber buildings are summarized and discussed. Two of the buildings (of seven and eight storeys) consist entirely of cross-laminated timber (CLT), while the third is a five-storey hybrid CLT-concrete building. Thanks to the detailed finite element models and modal testing results, one has the capability to conduct sensitivity analyses, classical and Bayesian model updating, and uncertainty quantifications. With these methodologies, influential modelling parameters as well as the sources of modelling error were identified. This allowed for conclusions to be drawn about the in-plane shear stiffness of the constructed walls (whose higher value causes the natural frequencies to increase by up to 25%), the soil deformability (which may cause the natural frequencies to drop by up to 20%), and the perpendicular-to-the-grain deformation of floor slabs (which may lead to an overestimation of a fundamental frequency by up to 8%).

In this paper, we propose a novel multiphase approach for identifying input parameters in dynamic fracture propagation. Often, such parameters are partially known and uncertain with incomplete input data, resulting in challenges in predicting a reliable dynamic failure response. To address this, we employ a stochastic Bayesian inverse method to estimate input parameters in three distinct phases of a fracture model. As a case study, we analyze a virtual version of Kalthoff's dynamic fracture propagation test using a finite element model enhanced with embedded strong discontinuities, where cracks propagate in a mixed‐mode manner, to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method. The approach successfully identifies six material parameters, including the bulk modulus, shear modulus, tensile strength, shear strength, and the modes I and II fracture energies. Through different time intervals and measurements in each phase, our results show that the computed posterior mean values are closely aligned with the true parameters of the material, validating the reliability and accuracy of the method.

This paper presents how procedures of building design can be improved by integrating trustable structural knowledge. Such a procedure allows closing the gap between as-designed building behavior and as-built building behavior and is particularly crucial for innovative structures where extensive engineering expertise may be lacking. By leveraging validated engineering principles and data-driven insights, the proposed methodology ensures more reliable and predictable design outcomes. The framework emphasizes the importance of transparent building behavior, allowing continuous monitoring and iterative refinement for designers. It also highlights how evidence-based decision-making may enhance structural performance. The capacities of this approach are demonstrated through a real-world application, specifically by improving the vibration serviceability of tall structures made of cross laminated timber (CLT) panels. This is achieved by utilizing modal property measurements from two case study buildings and applying a generalized updating procedure to refine the scaling factor for the elastic moduli, adjusting the manufacturer’s assessed values of the CLT panels.