Behaviour factor for innovative massive timber shear walls

Four massive wooden shear walls were analysed via experimental tests and numerical simulations. The specimens differ mainly in the method used to assemble the layers of timber boards: two of them are the well-known Cross-Laminated-Timber panels with glued interfaces, the other two are innovative massive timber panels adopting steel staples or wooden dovetail inserts to connect the layers. Quasi-static cyclic-loading tests were performed for each wall and main results are presented and analysed. A non-linear numerical model was calibrated on experimental results and used to perform non-linear dynamic analyses on specifically designed three-storey shear wall. The methods ensuring a reliable estimation of the intrinsic behaviour factor are presented and the definition of yielding and failure condition is discussed. The intrinsic behaviour factor values were calculated using results from non-linear dynamic analyses. Three limits of failure condition were analysed to estimate the correlated Peak Ground Acceleration and therefore the behaviour factor. A final interpretation of the obtained results is presented and some instructions about the choice of the suitable behaviour factor are given.