Experimental characterisation and mechanical modelling of connection details in traditional Groningen houses

Post-earthquake structural damage shows that out-of-plane wall collapse is one of the most prevalent failure mechanisms in unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings. This issue is particularly critical in Groningen, a province located in the northern part of the Netherlands, where low-intensity ground shaking has occurred since 1991 due to gas...

Seismic behaviour of masonry buildings with timber diaphragms

Existing masonry buildings are very frequently part of the architectural context for several countries all over the world. These constructions often feature masonry walls as vertical structural elements, and timber floors and roofs as horizontal components. The often poor characteristics of masonry, along with the in-plane flexibility of the...

Mechanical behaviour of timber joints with slotted-in steel plates

Timber joints are a key part of timber structures. Their reliable performance is a prerequisite to successful timber construction. The structural loadbearing behaviour of timber joints is mechanically complex and difficult to predict. Although numerical tools are currently available, these do not consider all anisotropic aspects of timber....