APPLICATION OF SEISMIC BASE ISOLATION IN A TIMBER MULTI-STORY FRAME BUILDING

With the aim of continuing the progress being made in using wood as a structural material, this paper explores the application of seismic protection technologies to multi-story timber buildings, with a particular focus on base isolation. It examines the challenges and issues that can arise in practical design. The current literature does not provide in-depth coverage on this topic, which limits the confidence in using isolation techniques for wooden structures. This research looks into a practical case study of an eight-story residential condominium exploiting a hybrid timber-steel frame with specifically developed nodes connecting steel columns and glulam beams. After accurately modeling the structure, both linear and nonlinear analysis are performed. Four different structural conditions are analyzed to assess the effects of nodes and infill wall stiffness and to evaluate the effectiveness of the isolation system.