Importance of mass timber in lateral force-resisting systems

Abstract

The use of mass timber is expanding in the construction industry, and its importance as a material of the future should not be overlooked. It is increasingly being used in the structures that humans occupy. In particular, it is being used in tall buildings. The following paper is not an all-inclusive investigation of mass timber. Rather, it isolates a highly technical aspect of incorporating mass timber, focusing specifically on lateral force-resisting systems in tall building applications. It highlights the importance of this topic, reviews relevant concepts of structural dynamics that underlie a more advanced discussion in this area, and then summarizes various research studies that have furthered the technical knowledge in this field. The most significant conclusion of this paper is that previous research has already demonstrated that mass timber is well-positioned to be a reliable lateral force-resisting system. With U-shaped flexural plates and coupled rocking walls, mass timber can perform as well or better than traditional materials, as it did by several key measures in studied scenarios. Further research should be pursued to address remaining concerns and fully appreciate all that mass timber can offer the construction industry.