Dynamic Response of Tall Timber Buildings to Wind Load

In various urban locations around the world, there are examples of multi-storey buildings which have recently been constructed, or are proposed to be constructed using timber as their primary structural material. Such buildings present new challenges in design and analysis.

The Eurocode 1 analysis method for along-wind vibration is applied here to a hypothetical modern tall timber building. The results of the analysis highlight the potential for an unacceptable along- wind dynamic response to turbulent wind load, and the importance of structural damping in mitigating that response. Tests on a dowelled timber connection are also presented, which illustrate the factors which affect stiffness and structural damping in such connections.

Through analysis and experiment, this work shows several aspects of the dynamic behaviour of timber structures which will be important in the design of future tall timber buildings.