Energy and Structural Optimization of Mid-rise Light-frame Timber Buildings: Analyzing Different Climates and Seismic Zones

Abstract

Abstract The location determines not only the structural loads but also the climate one timber structure must withstand. Given the broad variety of climatic and seismic conditions of Chile, this country may be regarded as a natural laboratory for analyzing how energetic and structural requirements of design are interrelated. In fact, the optimal design of timber buildings considering both energetic-thermic and structural-seismic requirements can be a very difficult task. The main objective of this research was to analyze and quantify the effect of climates, seismic loads, lateral anchorages, and story number on the optimal designs of light-frame timber buildings. This has been analyzed by conducting a parametric analysis of a coupled numerical model considering five Chilean cities' that considerably differ in terms of climates, seismic risk, numbers of stories and lateral anchorage systems. A case study building that adequately represent the typical national archetype was chosen for the analysis. The results indicate that the optimal wall insulation thickness, stud spacing, and thermal mass exhibited significant variations depending on the buildings' number of stories, lateral anchorage system, climate, and seismic zone. Therefore, the results of this investigation reinforce the importance, or rather, necessity of performing holistic designs of timber buildings, since the optimal buildings’ designs obtained in this investigation shown considerable variations and evidence the interconnection of requirements. In the future, more sophisticated models should be constructed to further considering in design additional requirements other than structural and energetic, which should facilitate and optimize the design and competitivity of wood in construction.