The combination of two proven construction methods could lead to safer wood-frame buildings in earthquake-prone cities.
University of Alabama and Colorado State University professors are combining the light wood frame system (LiFS) and cross-laminated timber (CLT) to form a self-centring structure that could better withstand the force of an earthquake.
Professor Thang Dao said that both methods have unique advantages, and along with a self-centering post-tension system, they could lead to wood-frame buildings in earthquake-prone cities as high as eight to 12 stories.
“One does very well in handling the load, and one does very well in dissipating the energy,” Dao said of CLTand LiFS. “That can improve the height of the structure because it can carry the heavier load.”
The trick is finding the right combination of the two methods, and that is what Dao and his research partners will be doing at the University’s Large Scale Structures Lab.
Click here for source (Alabama NewsCenter)
Photo: University of Alabama
