Experimental Investigation of Single-Story CLT Shear Walls

This paper presents experimental investigations on cross-laminated timber (CLT) shear walls for application in platform-type construction. A total of 8 single shear walls and 19 vertically with plywood splines connected coupled shear walls were tested with nailed hold-downs and shear brackets. The CLT panels were 7-ply 191 mm thick, the hold-downs and shear brackets were installed in different numbers and nails as well as with and without plate washers to create different yielding mechanisms. The shear wall lateral performance was assessed as a function of panel aspect ratios, number, and spacing of hold-downs and brackets, the number of nails in the spline joints, and the level of superimposed gravity loading. The tests showed that the shear wall aspect ratio and the size of the hold-down had a significant influence on the wall performance, while the reduction in hold-down nails and the shear bracket size did not.