Optimizing Seismic Capacity of Existing Masonry Buildings by Retrofitting Timber Floors: Wood-Based Solutions as a Dissipative Alternative to Rigid Concrete Diaphragms

The inadequate seismic performance of existing masonry buildings is often linked to the excessively low in-plane stiffness timber diaphragms and poor quality their connections walls. However, relevant past studies events have also shown that rigid could be detrimental for do not necessarily lead an increase in performance. Therefore, this work explores opportunity optimizing retrofitting floors by means a dissipative strengthening option, consisting plywood panel overlay. On basis experimental tests previously formulated analytical numerical models simulating response these retrofitted diaphragms, nonlinear incremental dynamic analyses were performed on three case–study buildings. For each structure configurations analyzed: as-built one, one having with concrete slabs strengthened panels. results showed additional beneficial hysteretic energy dissipation optimized can largely analyzed buildings, while only localize These outcomes contribute efficient demonstrating once more great potential wood-based techniques comparison use reinforced creating diaphragms.