Seismic Forces and Mass Timber
Where mass timber and CLT’s strength lies in its durability against seismic forces.
As natural disasters continue to become more frequent and severe, the construction industry is under increasing pressure to design and build seismically durable structures. One material that is proving to be particularly effective in this regard is cross-laminated timber (CLT).
CLT is a type of mass timber that is made by gluing layers of lumber together in a cross-directional pattern. This process results in a highly durable and stable material that is ideal for use in construction. One of the key advantages of CLT is its weight: it is six times lighter than concrete, which makes it much more resistant to seismic forces.
Seismic Forces and Mass Timber - Research
Research and testing has clearly demonstrated that mass timber and CLT structures can meet or exceed the most demanding earthquake and seismic design requirements. In fact, the durability of CLT against seismic forces is one of its biggest strengths. This is especially important when it comes to minimizing the amount of time a building is out of service after an earthquake occurs.
Building codes are now taking into account the probability of earthquakes in different regions and engineers and architects are working to reduce the structural damage that could occur in the event of a disaster. This means designing buildings that can be used again as soon as possible following the disaster. By using materials like CLT, it’s possible to achieve this goal and create structures that are both seismically durable and sustainable.
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