Structural Design of Tall Mass Timber Buildings

Following the Industrial Revolution, the construction of tall buildings has surged as a means of utilizing dense urban lands more efficiently. Previously, iron/steel and reinforced concrete were the primary structural materials used in tall buildings. However, the use of engineered mass timber as a structural material for tall buildings is steadily increasing due to its numerous benefits compared to its steel or reinforced concrete counterparts. These benefits include a lower carbon footprint, biophilic effects on occupant well-being, high-quality products due to reduced on-site manufacturing and labor, and shorter construction periods. Nevertheless, there are structural design considerations for tall mass timber buildings. This study first briefly examines the development of industrialized mass timber and investigates mass timber products. Mass timber encompasses a range of timber products, including glued laminated timber (GLT), cross-laminated timber (CLT), nail-laminated timber (NLT), dowel-laminated timber (DLT), laminated strand lumber (LSL), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), parallel strand lumber (PSL), and mass ply panel (MPP). It then explores the types of framing systems created with mass timber. These framing systems can be categorized according to their material usage as all-timber or hybrid systems and, according to load-bearing element usage, as post and beam, point-supported panels, wall and panel, and modular. Later, structural design considerations for tall mass timber structures are explained. After conducting case studies for the five tallest mass timber buildings worldwide, current approaches and research areas were identified for tall mass timber building structures. Keywords: tall buildings, mass timber, structural system, framing system