Nonlinear Dynamic Analyses of Novel Timber-steel Hybrid System

Although the benefits of using timber in midand high-rise construction are undisputed, there are perceived shortcomings with respect to the ductility needed to provide seismic resistance and a corresponding lack of appropriate design guidance. Overcoming these perceived shortcomings will allow timber, and its wood product derivatives, to further expand into the multi-storey construction sector, also in the context of hybrid structures that integrate different materials. The “Finding the Forest Through the Trees” (FFTT) system is a new hybrid system for high rise structures which combines the advantages of timber and steel as building materials. This paper presents research utilizing finite element models to capture the seismic response of the FFTT system and help developing design guidance. From the results presented herein, it appears that the FFTT system can meet the design performance requirements required for seismic loading: inter-storey drifts were lower than required and local plastic deformations were within a reasonable range for life safety performance.