Experimental analysis of seismic resistance of timber-framed structures with stones and earth infill

The seismic performance of timber-framed structures filled with natural stones and earth mortar is analyzed by introducing three scales of experiments during which both cyclic and monotonic loadings are considered. At the connection scale, tests are performed in both normal and tangential directions to obtain the hysteretic behavior of nailed connections. At the elementary cell and shear wall scales, pushover and reversed-cycle tests are performed to obtain the hysteretic behavior as a function of infill characteristics. Walls without any openings (doors or windows) were considered. Through these tests, the influence of the infill on stiffness, maximum load or equivalent viscous damping is analyzed. The present work is then compared with three other experimental studies on the same type of traditional structures in order to provide answers regarding their seismic-resistant behavior. Based on this experimental multi-scale analysis, this article confirms that the timbered masonry structures have a relevant seismic resistant behavior and provides a full analysis useful for the development of a numerical tool aiming at predicting the seismic resistant behavior of this kind of structure. (c) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.