Projects

Background: 

• This research program aims to support the transition of timber structure design from simple analysis to more sophisticated analysis using computer models.

Expected Outcome

• Establishing a reliable database on mechanical properties of timber members and connections that have been evaluated through testing and/or modeling. 

• Quantifying the uncertainties related to the collected mechanical properties of timber members and connections. 

• Recommending a set of model input properties for selected timber products and connection types. 

Background: 

• This research program aims to improve the design and manufacture of prefabricated wood buildings using AI and robotics technologies. 

Expected Outcome

• Developing machine learning (ML) models to predict the capacity of connections and the behavior of timber structures. 

• Creating a connection design framework based on the latest ML and generative design technologies. 

Background: 

• The objective of this project is to contribute to the development of design provisions for timber-braced frames that resist seismic loads, which could be implemented in the next edition of CSA O86. 

Expected Outcome

• Developing a computer platform for the automation of analysis and design of braced timber frames. 

Background: 

• Mass timber floors are prone to human-induced vibration, floor vibration is an important part of serviceability design.

• The current-used floor vibration design methods are mostly developed from light-framed timber or concrete and steel floors, their applicability to mass timber floors needs to be examined.

Expected Outcome

• Establish a large database of mass timber floors' vibration performance and dynamic properties from laboratory tests and field tests.

• Develop analytical and numerical models for predicting floor vibration parameters.

• Identify mass timber floors' vibration performance indicators, and develop specific criteria for designing and evaluating their vibration performance.

Background: 

• This research program is dedicated to developing software specifically for the nonlinear dynamic analysis of timber braced frames. 

Expected Outcome

• Conducting Pushover Analysis

• Conducting Eigenvalue Analysis

• Conducting Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA)

• Extraction of Fragility Curves

• Optimization/Adjustment of the Design Based on Responses

• Developing a database for RdRo​ for various systems

Fig. 1: Examples of Various Sections of the Analysis Process

1) The Frame information (example of a 2 story frame)

2) Eigenvalue Analysis

3) Push-Over Analysis

4) Connection Responses (Force-Displacement Graph)

5) Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA)

6) Fragility Curve

Background:  

• Obtain the wind data from wind-tunnel tests.

• To accommodate the design requirements, consider different-degree nonlinear-plastic responses by combining structural characteristics with wind load characteristics. 

Expected Outcome

• Obtain the wind data from wind-tunnel tests.

• To accommodate the design requirements, consider different-degree nonlinear-plastic responses by combining structural characteristics with wind load characteristics.

Background: 

• CSA O86 proposed a limit-state-based design procedure of TCC floors

•  No reliability analysis on TCC floors

Expected Outcome

• To evaluate the reliability levels of TCC floors designed using the approach with those resistance factors proposed in CSA O86

•  To evaluate the proper resistance factors if the reliability levels designed using CSA O86 method are not appropriate

Background: 

• Serviceability performance requirements, such as deflection and vibration, are dependent on the stiffness of the connection.

•  Stiffness and ductility are critical for designers designing for high wind loads and earthquakes.

• Inclined fasteners have complex behavior due to the combined lateral and withdrawal action.

Expected Outcome

• Summary and comparison of existing formulas for stiffness of timber connections.

•  Effect of various parameters on stiffness of dowel fasteners

•  Models to predict stiffness of different fasteners

Background: 

• Many timber houses are similar and contain nearly the same design process.

• When designing a new timber house, it will save time if an engineer can identify a similar existing house and make modifications instead of completing the whole process.

Expected Outcome

• This project aims to provide a method for finding similar houses in the database.

• Compare the similar houses and highlight the differences

Background: 

• This project focuses on providing the optimum design of mass timber building components (grid arrangement, floor, beam and column) and beam-column connections.

• The optimization will be based on material cost, utilization and construction feasibility.

• For the optimization of building components, reinforcement learning (RL) is employed. Later generative design technique will be incorporated with this RL model to figure out the optimum connection design

Expected Outcome

• This research will produce a model for mass timber building components and connection optimization. 

• This model will aid the designer’s community in obtaining cost-effective solutions for mass timber building projects. 

• This will also improve building utilization. 

Background: 

• The project aims to develop a prefabricated retrofitting wood wall panel that can be easily installed on existing buildings.

• Prefabrication allows for more efficient and cost-effective construction, reducing waste and minimizing on-site disruption.

• The retrofitting wood wall panel will be designed to improve the building's insulation and energy efficiency, while also providing aesthetic and acoustic benefits.

Expected Outcome

• Identification of the appropriate type of connections required for the installation of the prefabricated retrofitting wood wall panel.

• Design optimization of the wood wall panel for improved insulation and energy efficiency, as well as aesthetic and acoustic benefits.

• Development of a detailed installation guidance for the installation of the wood wall panel, including recommendations for installation techniques and tools required.

• Testing and evaluation of the performance of the wood wall panel in real-world applications to ensure its durability and effectiveness.

Background

• CLT and NLT can be viable alternatives to concrete in basement construction, similar to PWF

• Benefits of mass timber vs PWF: stronger & stiffer system, thermal mass, prefabrication potential

• Structural analysis, hygrothermal analysis and moisture protection system development ➡︎ Field Trial

Expected Outcome

• Pre-engineered CLT and NLT basement wall design

• Envelope details including thermal and moisture barrier, and soil drainage requirements

Background:

• Timber Braced Frames (TBF) are emerging as sustainable Seismic Force Resisting Systems (SFRS).

• Most tall timber buildings are in low seismic/wind zones due to limited dynamic performance data.

• Connection behavior is critical and often governs failure in high-risk regions.

• This study investigates perforated steel plates as energy-dissipating fuses for seismic resilience.

• Optimized fuse design aims to localize deformation and protect timber connections.
  
  

Project Updates:

• Flexural yielding found to enable large deformations in fuse elements.

• Numerical study analyzed parameters affecting fuse performance.

• Geometry optimization improved energy dissipation and ductility.

• Full-scale tests achieved 2.25% drift with simultaneous fuse yielding.

• System meets NBCC moderately ductile criteria for seismic zones.
  
  

Expected Outcome:

• Develop repairable, high-performance timber connections for seismic applications.

• Enable broader use of TBF systems in high seismic and wind regions.

• Support resilient, sustainable mass timber design through optimized fuse integration.

Background: 

• A timber-concrete composite (TCC) system consists of a timber (or mass timber) element (or web) with a concrete slab (or flange) above and a shear connection at the interface. 

• This system takes advantage of the compressive strength of concrete and the tensile strength and light weight of timber.

• According to the modern design codes, both ultimate and serviceability limit states have to be satisfied in the design of TCC systems. Despite the importance of the long-term behaviour of this system, there is still a lack of research in this area.

Expected Outcome

• Experimental creep-time curves of TCC systems connected with self-tapping screws with different orientations

• Creep coefficient of TCC systems with different connection configurations

• Analytical model to fit the creep-time curves and predict joint creep values for a longer time period (10 to 50 years) 

Background: 

• Analysis of the structural, thermal, and moisture management properties of CLT panels for basement walls

• Comparison of CLT panels with traditional basement wall materials such as concrete

• Discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of using CLT panels for basement walls

Expected Outcome

• Evaluation of the structural performance of CLT panels in basement walls, including comparisons with traditional materials

• Assessment of the thermal and moisture management properties of CLT panels in basement walls, including their effects on energy efficiency and indoor air quality 

Objectives

• To develop group effect factor for multi-fastenered connections based on structural reliability principles

Methodology

• Testing on single and multi-fastenered connections under withdrawal force

• Develop a model to evaluate load distribution in multi-fastenered connections

• Reliability analysis to develop group action factor and resistance factor for self-tapping screw connections

Background

• Stress distribution in CLT under edge (e.g. point load on CLT wall, bearing of CLT beam) is complex due to cross lamination

• Better understanding of stress distribution will allow more realistic design specifications to be developed

• Numerical modelling and testing

Expected Outcome

• Design specifications for CLT under bearing

Background

• Analysis procedure for mass timber panel (e.g. CLT) diaphragm that calculates connection forces and deflection is not yet standardized for design use

• Review of proposed approaches and numerical modelling

Expected Outcome

• Design procedure to calculate connection forces and deflection based on connection and panel stiffness

Background

• Interest in ’strong’ shear wall due to mid-rise, larger opening, open-space, e.g. mid-ply

• Contribution of segments around openings in mid-ply shear wall is desirable

• Shear walls and numerical modelling

Expected Outcome

• Framing details around openings in mid-ply walls to minimize its impact on the strength and stiffness of the wall

• Design approach for perforated mid-ply shear walls

Background

• Combining mass timber system for gravity load with a SFRS (braced steel frame) that is recognized in NBCC

• Connection that allows timber system ‘to go with the motion’ while providing lateral stiffness is required

• Conventional braced steel frame and self-centering braced steel frame

• Numerical modelling and connection test

Expected Outcome

• Innovative connection details to ‘isolate’ the gravity system from SFRS

• Guidelines for design of steel-timber hybrid structural system and structural fuse

Background

• Mass timber panel-concrete (MTPC) composite systems have higher strength and stiffness to weight ratios, in-plane rigidity, and superior thermal and fire performances compared to timber only systems

• Self-Tapping Screw (STS) has growing popularity in timber construction, but the STS performance in an inclined position in the MTPC composite was not well investigated

• Insulation is necessary for better acoustics and vibration performance of the floors, but the influence of the insulation layer influence on MTPC composite connection and system was not well studied

• Finally, there is a lack of design standards & guidelines for designing mechanical connections and MTPC composite systems 

Outcomes

• Higher-strength and stiffness of 30° angled screws compared to 45° angled screws in timber-concrete joints 

• Screw spacings can mitigate the reduction in capacity and stiffness of the composite system due to the presence of an insulation layer

• Direct connection strength and stiffness predictions from developed connection models based on material property parameters 

• Capacity, effective bending stiffness, failure modes, and load-deflection response predictions of the system based on a developed progressive yielding method 

• Sustainability design considerations based on developed span-table for various occupancy requirements

• Design Guidelines for MTPC composite floor systems with mechanical connectors

Background

• Notched connections have high stiffness and strength, and can be more cost-effective than most of the dowel type fasteners

• Notched connections can fail in timber or concrete in either brittle or ductile manners

• There are not enough guidelines about the notched connection design in the composite floors

Methodology

• Experimental study on notched connections and composite timber-concrete composite floors

• Analytical evaluation on the composite floors connected with discrete and flexible connections

• Numerical analysis to verify analytical models and provide insights that test investigation cannot observe 

Expected Outcome

• A composite beam model that considers the discrete and flexible features of the connections

• Design guidelines for mass timber panel-concrete composite floors with notches 

Objective

• To investigate the premature failure of self-tapping screws caused by moisture content fluctuation in wood members

Methodology

• Experimental measurement of swelling properties of glulam and CLT, screw tensile strength, withdrawal strength and stiffness at different moisture levels, and connection behaviour during moisture content change of wood

• Development of a model to predict tensile stress in screw due to moisture content change in wood

Expected Outcome

• Introduce perforated plate end brace connections as an appropriate candidate to approach moderately ductile braced frame

• Contribute to the next revision of CSA O86: developing a design guideline for designing a moderately ductile braced frame

• Determine the Rd factor for timber braced frames and propose other global seismic performance factors

• Provide guidance on different system limitations such as building height and the aspect ratios

Background

• Current CLT floor vibration design method assumes single-span, simply support system

• Effects of end support restraint, multi-span and beam support conditions need to be accounted for in design

• Development of analytical solutions and lab tests

Expected Outcome

• Models to predict frequency and deflection, that account for end support restraint, multiple span and beam support

• Procedure to calculate end support restraint coefficient due to wall loading at the ends

Background

• Mass timber panel fabricated with SCL and lumber (hybrid CLT) can address some of the weaknesses of CLT (e.g. rolling shear and low bending stiffness)

• Hybrid CLT is recognized in PRG 320, but structural design specifications are not available

• Connection and shear wall tests (panels made by InnoTech Alberta) need to be conducted

Expected Outcome

• Hybrid CLT connection and shear wall to be treated the same as CLT

Background

• Wood frame offsite home construction is partially panelized because of use of triangulated roof trusses

• Panelized roof system is of interest to maximize in-house production capacity, improve construction efficiency and reduce cost

• Review of potential systems, numerical modelling  and development of panel details ➨ Implementation

Expected Outcome

• Panelized roof system

• Manufacturing and construction sequence, and design procedure

Background: 

• Compared with the traditional light wood structure design method, designers need to refer to design standards repeatedly and inefficiently. 

• This research intends to designate a new design scheme. 

• Designers and even users themselves can easily select and control design parameters , and then automatically get the visual design results

Expected Outcome

• Improve the overall prefabrication and assembly level of light wood residential structure

• Improve the economic efficiency of builders and the cost-competitiveness of light wood structure residence

• Promote the process of light wood structure residential informatization

Background: 

• Self-tapping screws (STS) are widely used in timber construction, and their performance is affected by several parameters, including moisture content.

• Moisture content can cause swelling in timber members, which may result in premature failure of STS connections.

Expected Outcome

• Analysis of stress distribution in fully threaded and partially threaded STS for wood-to-wood and steel-to-wood connections subjected to different initial axial load and moisture content changes.

• Analyze the failure possibility of STS with different penetration lengths.