Mechanical characterization of an innovative wall-to-floor connection for Cross-Laminated Timber structures

Typical connectors for Cross Laminated Timber walls, hold-downs and angle brackets, can exhibit brittle failures if they are not designed according capacity design principles. Moreover, these connections can show reductions of the mechanical performances if they are subject to biaxial loads (shear and tension). This article presents an experimental study on an innovative wall-to-floor connection for Cross Laminated Timber structures, designed to withstand both shear and tension loads. Experimental tests aimed to investigate the coupling effect of shear and tension loads are presented and discussed. Shear and tension tests, carried out in both monotonic and cyclic regime, are presented giving information on the uncoupled behavior of the connector. With the aim to investigate the coupled behaviour for biaxial loads, monotonic and cyclic tests with 45° load inclination are presented and discussed. Failure modes and mechanical parameters including strength, stiffness, ductility, equivalent viscous damping, energy dissipation and strength degradation are described and discussed in detail. Finally, strength domains of the connection based on yielding, maximum and ultimate forces are proposed.