Lateral Deformation and Kinematic Modes of Multipanel Balloon-Type Clt Shearwall System

Balloon-type Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) shearwall systems have been widely used as lateral load resisting systems (LLRS) in several mid- and high-rise timber buildings. Contrary to platform-type shearwalls, balloon framing contains continuous panels along multiple storeys in the vertical direction, which helps avoid perpendicular-to-grain compression failure in the floors. Despite some of the advantages associated with this type of construction, design provisions have not yet been introduced to various timber codes and standards, mainly due to the scarcity in research on their behaviours. This paper presents a numerical analysis model with the aim of investigating the lateral deformation and kinematic modes of balloon-type CLT shearwall systems. A finite element (FE) model is proposed, and a discussion on various key parameters affecting the behaviour of the shearwall, including aspect ratios (h/b), stiffness of the connectors, vertical loads and the number of panels, is presented.