PSI - Issue 11

Roberto Scotta et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 11 (2018) 282–289 R. Scotta et al. / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2018) 000 – 000

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Fig. 5. Details of the complete system with anchors, brackets and all fixings for ALUBEAM 120/100

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Fig. 6. Installation phases for new timber buildings with ALUBEAM 100L

4. Experimental tests

The actual load-bearing capacity of the aluminium beam in compression was preliminary evaluated with detailed finite-element models and then verified with an experimental campaign, conducted at the testing laboratory for construction materials of the University of Padova. For detailed information on the Finite Element (FE) models see (Scotta et al., 2017). Beam specimens were tested in a universal testing machine, applying a monotonic vertical compression (rate of 1.5mm/min) to a CLT element, interposed between the aluminium beam and the hydraulic actuator, in order to simulate the usage as bottom rail of timber walls. The loading procedure was kept constant for all the analysed versions. Fig. 7 shows the analysed configurations and one representative load-displacement curve per type of specimen, among all performed tests. Tests of ALUBEAM 120 (Fig. 7a) had the aim of verifying the behaviour of the aluminium beam in compression and to test the brackets designed to anchor the wall to foundation, conferring resistance to lateral loads (e.g., those occurred during an earthquake). This version of the profile is suitable for massive walls having thickness of 120mm or for light-frame walls. Tested specimens were realized with a 5-layer 120-mm thick CLT panel anchored to the aluminium element, having length of 250mm, by means of three different brackets. A total of nine tests were performed (three for each type of bracket). Mean values of 147kN, 211kN and 249kN were obtained for the HD, SH and TS brackets respectively (see Fig. 7a), due to the different confinement effects and loading transfer provided by the brackets. Results for all the tests of ALUBEAM 120 are available in (Scotta et al., 2017). Tests of ALUBEAM 100 (Fig. 7b) were conducted to characterize this new version, suitable for massive walls having thickness of 100mm. Specimens with length equal to 250 mm were loaded by positioning a 100mm thick CLT panel on the top of the beam. Results confirmed a good load-bearing capacity also of this element, with mean strength in compression of 138kN. Finally, tests of ALUBEAM 100L were performed on a beam element with length equal to 150mm, by positioning a 100mm thick CLT panel as for ALUBEAM 100. A mean value of 114 kN was obtained. In conclusion, all tests proved that the ultimate load-bearing capacity of the supporting beam, shown in Fig. 7 in terms of experimental and numerical strength, is compatible with the vertical loads that characterize a common two- to three-storey timber building.