An experimental study of the stiffness and strength of cross-laminated timber wall-to-floor connections under compression perpendicular to the grain

In platform-type multi-story cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings, gravity loads from upper floors, and vertical reaction forces horizontal actions, like wind loads, cause substantial compressive in the CLT-floor elements. The combination of these high with a comparable low compression stiffness strength perpendicular to grain timber, makes (CPG) verification CLT an important design criterion. this experimental study, CPG was investigated by means typical wall-to-floor connections structures. CLT-wall elements were used for load application transmit through element CPG. Compared steel elements, as it commonly is done experiments, lower but similar found walls. study different connection types showed highest assembled screws, followed pure wood-to-wood contact, while acoustic layers between floor wall lowest strength. addition, tested center edge position on element. compared full surface loaded specimens increased linearly activated material volume, determined earlier proposed stress dispersion models. effect visualized strain measurements using digital image correlation technique. Also, volume. Stress allowed explain increase decreasing thickness. Strength values at levels, factors suitable engineering structures are provided. • Loading CLT. gave than loading steel. Strength, also stiffness, strongly depended load. Screws substantially influenced stiffness. Surface strains tests agreed assumptions