Essay - Improvement in Seismic Behavior of Timber Structures Using Fiber Reinforced...

Improvement in Seismic Behavior of Timber Structures us*****g Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP)

Increasing the strength and improving ***** behavior of timber structures during periods of seismic stress is a worldwide concern. Structural collapse ***** one of the most frequent causes of death during an earthquake. The latest trend in research-based improvements to these ***** explores the use of fiber reinforced polymers to improve the perform*****ce of timber structures under ***** stress. The proposed research will explore the feasibility ***** using fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) ***** improve the seismic behavior of timber ***** and joints.

*****oretical Background literature review reveals that there are numerous studies available that focus on improving bond strength between fiber reinforced polymer materials and the substrate structure. Delamination ***** ***** ***** polymer from the substrate has also received a consider*****ble amount of academic attention. The objective of reinforcing timber structures with FRP is to improve the tensile strength of the final product. Failure testing has historically focused on ***** failure. However, this approach does not tell us how the material will perform under shear stresses ***** occur during ***** activity.

***** activity places ***** and o*****r building ***** ***** a number of *****. As the earth moves, ***** building must be able to move ***** it. One of the key problems with the tim*****r structure alone is that ***** more rigid structures collapse faster under horizontal motions than structures that ***** ductile (Ceccoti et al, 2006). Al***** 80% of *****l homes in the US are constructed of timber frames (***** et al, 2006). The key motion that will be analyzed in this research is structural stress under horizontal movement.

Hypo*****sis

The current research is based on a gap in the research that exists due to a lack ***** real-world simulations. It will consider both the integrity and strength of the ***** and the type of bonding material in ***** analysis. The study will use a model to test the beh*****vior ***** the substrate alone, the ***** bonded to ***** and the behavior of CFRP alone under simulated horizontal seismic action. The hypo*****sis will state that timber bonded to CFRP ***** withstand the stresses ***** horizontal displacement longer than timber *****, or CFRP alone.

In addition to the hypo*****sis, this research will compare the ductile strength and ***** ***** strength of ***** alone the composite alone. The type of bond ***** effect ***** results obtained. A bond ***** will be chosen that represents a maj*****ity of the buildings *****ing constructed today in the US. The type of bond used for these analyses will be d*****erm*****ed through a literature review as part of the ***** research project.

Methodology

Ceccoti & associates (2006) utilized several different scale models to test the propensity of old historic timber ***** to collapse under ***** stress. This experimental model would make an excellent basis ***** which ***** conduct the proposed research. This model involved construction of scale models ***** the three building *****s proposed: timber frame *****, CFRP *****ed to the same timber *****