Cultural heritage buildings are valued in contemporary societies as they reflect the lifestyles and creative achievements our predecessors. For this reason, many countries have introduced regulations to ensure conservation of their historic buildings for the future, permitting minimal changes only to their original structure and characteristics. The key question addressed in this study is: how best can we assess the current structural behavior of a historical building, in particular wooden structures which may have survived for several centuries despite the deleterious consequences of decay, ageing and earthquakes? This paper focuses on a structural behavior assessment under current conditions (i.e. before restoration) of the Velipaşa Han Building, an impressive “caravanserai” or han (inn) building dating from the 19th century, in the central Anatolian region of Turkey. This assessment includes non-destructive tests to obtain the resistance of the timber structural elements and to determine the modal response of the building. In addition, a finite element model was developed, based on an on-site investigation and the proposed restoration project, and validated by consideration of in situ experimental measurements. The model also used a condition assessment of the building after proposed restoration. Through in situ inspection, experimental measurement and numerical investigation, the current structural behavior of the building was evaluated and, based on this, recommendations for intervention are presented in the study.

Shear walls provide the lateral resistance needed for light-frame wood structures to withstand earthquake and wind loads. When sheathed with wooden structural panels, shear walls can be strong, stiff, and ductile. This is a study on the effect of wood species and drying temperature of veneer on the suitability of plywood for use in shear walls resisting earthquake loads. The highest lateral nail strength values were obtained from plywood panels manufactured from black pine veneers dried at 160°C. Group C (black pine) showed the highest maximum load values and the greatest displacement at ultimate load, whereas Group A (Scots pine) showed the lowest maximum load values and the least displacement at ultimate load. The stiffness values (2.38, 2.52, and 2.28 for Groups C1, C2, and C3, respectively) in Group C were higher than those of the other groups. The results exceeded the values for standards described in National Design Specification for Wood Construction and ISO 16670 and also met the values in...