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Workshop Report: Disproportionate Collapse Resilience of Mass Timber Buildings

Authors: Raharja, Reuben; Jacques, Eric; Phillips, Adam;

Workshop Report: Disproportionate Collapse Resilience of Mass Timber Buildings

Abstract

Virginia Tech convened a workshop on October 24, 2025 to identify state-of-the-art challenges and research needs for mitigating disproportionate collapse in multi-story mass timber and timber-hybrid buildings. The workshop included an overview presentation by Professors Phillips and Jacques followed by a facilitated discussion structured around open-ended questions on current practice, common building configurations, connection data gaps, modeling challenges, and research priorities. Key findings: • In practice, disproportionate-collapse evaluation is most commonly pursued for tall Risk Category III/IV projects; federal facilities may also require it, but mass timber is less frequently selected for those buildings. • At-risk mass timber buildings typically use reinforced concrete core walls or steel braced frames for the lateral system, with post-and-plate (often residential) or post-and-beam (often commercial) gravity framing. Diaphragms are often cantilevers off a central core. • Connection and diaphragm detailing is dominated by nailed splines, coil straps/surface-mounted plates for ties, and proprietary concealed beam-to-column connectors. Standardized strength–rotation–stiffness properties are largely unavailable, leading to highly variable modeling practices. • Applying ASCE/SEI 76 to mass timber is limited by lack of validated connection/subassembly data; reliance on ASCE/SEI 41 does not resolve this because timber-specific parameters remain insufficient—creating a circular gap in guidance. • Dynamic/high strain-rate effects in column-loss scenarios are poorly characterized for mass timber. Recommended research priorities: • Large-scale connection tests with sustained axial load to quantify rotational capacity under combined demands. • New connection systems with high rotation capacity and reliable post-yield axial capacity (with concealed/fire-compatible detailing). • Dynamic and high strain-rate effects in progressive-collapse response (connection- and system-level). • Diaphragm panel/joint layout studies to better mobilize two-way cross-laminated timber (CLT) action and improve load redistribution. • Standardize connection performance data and expand ASCE/SEI 76 with a mass timber section comparable in specificity to steel.

Country
United States
Related Organizations
Keywords

extreme loads, mass timber, disproportionate collapse, buildings

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
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