In-plane behaviour of differently refurbished timber floors

This work analyses the behaviour of in-plane timber floors which are differently refurbished. The task is to ascertain the stiffness of the different solutions and to study the influence on the global behaviour of the building. The first type analysed is a floor with simple boards to which different reinforcing techniques have been applied. These are double boards, steel plates, diagonally set FRP strips, glued plywood panels and concrete slabs. For each of these types of reinforcement experimental displacement control tests were carried out. They were monotonic and cyclic tests of specimens with dimensions 2x1 m and 5x4 m, with and without perimeter tie-beams. The same tests were numerically reproduced and a numeric model of simple implementation was created able to simulate non-linear behaviour of floor and tie-beam. On the end, the floor model was used in order to analyse a traditional building. Experimental analysis and numeric modelling confirmed the need to guarantee efficient floor-masonry connections and showed the notable contribution offered by perimeter tie-beam in terms of in-plane floor stiffness. The comparison between different techniques of reinforcement showed the inadequacy of simple boards to stand up to seismic action.