Pseudodynamic tests and earthquake response analysis of timber structures I: plywood-sheathed conventional wooden walls with opening

Pseudodynamic (PSD) lateral loading tests were conducted on conventional post and beam timber frames with plywood-sheathed shear walls to validate the dynamic model of wall panels, each with an opening of a different configuration. The lateral forces were applied step by step at the top of the wooden frames by the computer-controlled actuator, and the displacement response for the next step was computed on the basis of the input accelerogram of the 1940 El Centro earthquake scaled up to 0.4g. The test results were compared with those of the lumped mass time-history earthquake response analysis using the hysteresis model with pinching. The results of the dynamic analysis with this global model consisting of the envelope curves, unloading and reloading with pinching agreed well with the experimental results of the PSD tests of this type of earthquake record. Some parametric studies may be necessary, however, to validate the model with different earthquake records. The hysteretical parameters obtained in this study showed similar values for each of the wall panels with different opening configurations. This makes it possible to use the model and parameters for the plywood-sheathed shear walls to estimate the dynamic behavior of entire structures without conducting expensive PSD tests or shaking table tests.     

Pseudodynamic tests and earthquake response analysis of timber structures III: three-dimensional conventional wooden structures with plywood-sheathed shear walls

Pseudodynamic (PSD) tests were conducted on plywood-sheathed conventional Japanese three-dimensional (3D) wooden structures. Lateral load was applied to the edge beam of specimen structures to generate eccentricity loading. Specimens were based on a combination of shear walls with openings in the loading direction and horizontal diaphragms with different shear stiffness. The principle deformation of the horizontal diaphragm was torsion for rigid diaphragms and shear deformation for flexible diaphragms. Lumped-mass time-history earthquake response analysis was conducted on the tested structures, and additional calculations were conducted on structures with different eccentricity rates. Dynamic analyses were conducted by varying the masses and the resistance of the walls in the loading direction. The simulated peak displacement response in the loading plane agreed comparatively well with the PSD test results. The maximum displacement response on changing the wall resistant ratio showed almost the same tendency as that obtained by changing the mass ratio up to an eccentricity rate of 0.3; however, the maximum displacement response increased markedly beyond an eccentricity rate of 0.4. It was proved that the lumped-mass 3D model proposed in this study was appropriate for conducting a parameter study on the 3D dynamic behavior of timber structures.     

Performance evaluation of multi-storey cross-laminated timber structures under different earthquake hazard levels

The inter-storey drift limitations are meaningful reference values for structural seismic performance evaluation. This paper presents an analytical investigation into the seismic performance of multi-storey cross-laminated timber (CLT) structures to obtain the drift limitations under different earthquake hazard levels reasonably. The Pinching4 model was used to simulate the nonlinear mechanical behavior of three types of connections used in CLT structures, and a numerical model was further developed to capture the lateral load-resisting properties of CLT shear walls. Moreover, three benchmark multi-storey CLT apartment buildings were designed using the Equivalent Static Force Procedure according to National Building Code of Canada (NBCC), and simplified structural models were developed for these buildings. Depending on the results from numerous time-history dynamic analyses, the empirical cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) of the maximum inter-storey drifts were constructed for the three benchmark buildings. The probability of non-exceedance (PNE) of inter-storey drift thresholds under different earthquake hazard levels was proposed and validated. It is recommended that for low-rise CLT buildings within three stories, values of 0.30%, 0.75%, and 1.40% can be considered as the drift limitations for frequent, medium, and rare seismic hazard levels, respectively. For mid-rise or high-rise buildings without three stories, 0.25%, 0.70%, and 1.30% can be considered as drift limitations.     

龙潭河大桥地震反应分析

龙潭河大桥采用连续刚构体系,其桥墩最高达178 m。采用BEAM3单元建立了该桥的动力分析有限元模型,计算了其自由振动频率及振动模态。利用ANSYS软件对该桥进行了弹性反应谱分析和时程反应分析,获得了该桥的地震反应内力。计算分析表明,不同地震波输入对桥梁的地震反应影响很大,El-Centro波输入下该桥的响应最大,竖桥向激励对结构的地震影响也不可忽略。     

Management of advanced regeneration in secondary forests of the Brazilian Amazon

Gap formation is a critical process for plant establishment that may be absent or infrequent in second-growth forests, negatively influencing their ability to become diverse mature forest. I simulated treefall gaps within a 10-year-old secondary forest established on a clear-cut area, because cut areas may have a greater potential for economic exploitation than areas used for pastures and shifting cultivation. I explored the effects of varying degrees of canopy opening on the growth of plants already established as advanced regeneration. Five intensities of canopy opening were created: total removal (100%), 80–90%, 50–60%, 20–30% and a 0% control. Only trees >5 cm DBH were cut. The established plant community was diverse, and comprised 37 families and 126 species and morpho-species, of which 72% had some use reported in the literature. I found that the canopy opening treatments resulted in very little disturbance to the established seedling and sapling community, with no significant increase in mortality, but had a strong positive effect on their growth. Light levels reaching the understory were increased from 1% of incident photosynthetic active radiation in control plots to 35% in 100% canopy opening plots. During the first year, differences in plant growth were not significant, but by the second year, differential plant growth associated with canopy opening became evident. Most seedlings (51%) grew approximately 25 cm in height, and approximately one quarter grew more than 25 cm. Only 2.6% of the seedlings decreased in height, and 12% did not grow at all. Fifty percent canopy removal resulted in an almost threefold increase in plant height compared to control plots (0.52 ± 0.4 m and 0.20 ± 0.2 m, respectively), and was not significantly different from 80 or 100% removal. This indicates that intermediate levels of canopy removal had positive effects and total removal was unnecessary to stimulate the best growth responses. I conclude that regeneration of diverse mature forest can be accelerated under some conditions by partial removal of secondary forest canopy.     

废旧刨花板循环利用技术的研究

探讨利用废旧刨花板循环制造刨花板的技术.采用高压水煮、水煮、汽蒸和直接粉碎4种方法制备刨花,通过比较刨花的筛分值和压制刨花板的主要物理力学性能,得出最佳的处理方法为水煮.试验压制的一次循环水煮和二次循环水煮刨花板的性能,可分别达到GB/T 4897.5-2003和GB/T 4897.3-2003的要求.     

Early root morphology of jack pine seedlings grown in different types of container

Abstract

This study compared the effects of container type on early root system morphology of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings to determine impacts of container type on root characteristics that may be important for tree stability. Seedlings were grown for one season in Multipots®, Ventblocks®, Copperblocks®, Starpots® and Jiffy® pellets, and for a second season in sand culture in pots. After the first growing season, roots that had grown between Jiffy plugs were cut using a knife, either “early”, in September, or “late”, in November. Seedlings produced in non-pruning containers, Multipots and Ventblocks, had more vertical structural roots, less even root distribution and high shoot:root mass after a second season. Seedlings grown in pruning containers, Copperblocks, Starpots and Jiffy pellets, had more horizontal structural roots and more evenly distributed roots. Jiffy seedlings had high shoot:root mass after pruning, but ratios decreased to low levels similar to Starpots and Copperblocks after a second season in pots. Early pruning of Jiffy seedlings removed less root mass than late pruning, but total live root mass of early and late pruned seedlings was similar after the potting trial. Pruning containers thus produced structural root forms with more desirable characteristics for tree stability. These characteristics were evident after the first season and persisted after the second season in the potting trial.     

轻型木结构墙体稳态传热性能及其保温材料影响比较

轻型木结构墙体的热工性能对建筑节能至关重要,其稳态传热性能是节能效率评估指标之一。工程调研发现,轻型木结构墙体墙骨柱热传递过程易产生冷热桥,改善墙体保温构造并通过试验测试,对得到不同构造的墙体传热系数等指标进行分析研究,有利于设计人员优选墙体设计参数、研发墙体新型保温材料。试验采用标定热箱法与热流计法相结合的试验方法——控温箱-热流计法对改善保温措施的墙体进行试验,分析了12种墙体试件的热流密度、传热系数、热阻以及日传热量参数,并与理论计算结果进行比较验证,试验结果与理论计算结果吻合性较好。研究发现:气凝胶毡放置在墙骨柱位置能够有效降低平均传热系数3.8%~15.0%,随厚度增加可逐渐减弱或消除墙骨柱冷热桥效应;聚苯乙烯保温板可有效降低传热系数32.4%~35.1%,墙体蓄热能力较好;纳米纤维保温材料可有效降低传热系数5.9%~8.7%,提高墙体冷热面温差,平衡室内温度。选取的3种保温材料中,聚苯乙烯保温板相比气凝胶毡和纳米纤维保温材料,对墙体整体热工性能的提升更为显著。     

油松管胞形态特征的变异

本文研究分析了山西中条山产地油松管胞形态特征的变异。管胞长度自髓心向外,首先迅速增加,13年后管胞长度增加缓慢,20年后保持相对稳定。管胞长度沿树干主轴自基部向上逐渐增加,5.3m高处最长,然后向上变短,树冠区域管胞长度最短。形成层原始细胞长度随着原始细胞年增大,开始递增,达到最大值后又递减。管胞直径、胞壁厚度自髓心向外增加。管胞直径轴向变化由树干基部开始向上增大,然后又减小。管胞长宽比、壁腔比的径向变异与管胞长度的径向变异模式相似。生长轮内管胞长度从早材到晚材,开始减小,然后增加,最小值位于早晚材过渡处。     

Root carbohydrates and aspen regeneration in relation to season of harvest and machine traffic

Season of harvest has often been suggested as a driver for the erratic success of aspen (Populus tremuloides) sucker regeneration, partially due to root carbohydrate reserves and soil conditions at the time of harvest. A field experiment in western Manitoba, Canada, assessed root suckering and root carbohydrates of aspen in response to season of harvest and machine traffic. Six sites (120 m × 120 m) were selected within two large mature aspen stands slated for summer harvest. Plots (50 m × 50 m) were hand-felled (without machine traffic) in mid-summer, late summer, winter, and one plot was left uncut as a control. Season of cut with no traffic had no effect on sucker density, height or leaf dry mass per sucker. During the dormant season, root starch reserves were highest in the winter cut plots, however, just prior to suckering, this difference in carbohydrate reserves among the three seasons of harvest disappeared and by the end of the first growing season root reserves in all three seasons of cut had recovered to near control levels. Adjacent plots that were conventionally harvested in the summer and impacted by logging traffic had similar sucker densities but had 19% less height growth of suckers and 29% less leaf dry mass per sucker compared to suckers in plots harvested at the same time without traffic. After one growing season, root carbohydrate levels were similar whether or not machine traffic was used; however, the reduction in leaf dry mass in plots with machine traffic could have negative implications for carbohydrate accumulation and growth. The study suggests that the phenological state of the mature aspen plays a very small role in aspen regeneration and that harvesting practices and site conditions are likely the main drivers of aspen regeneration success.     

Effect of gap size on mid-rotation stand structure and species composition in a naturally regenerated mixed broadleaf forest

This paper is an assessment of the effect of gap size on stand structure and species composition 48 years following treatment in a mixed broadleaf upland forest. Established in 1960, the study tests three circular openings, 15.2 m (0.02 ha), 45.7 m (0.16 ha), and 76.2 m (0.46 ha). Forty-eight years following treatment (2008) basal area, top height, and quadratic mean diameter were significantly lower in 15.2 m openings. Maple (Acer spp.) species had the highest mean importance value across treatments (0.40). Trends suggest that species composition of dominant and codominant trees among opening sizes may have been influenced by shade tolerance adaptations of the species groups present. Whereas 15.2 m openings were dominated by shade tolerant maple species, 45.7 and 76.2 m openings produced a mixture of commercial species including shade intolerant species such as yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), trees of intermediate shade tolerance like oak (Quercus spp.), and shade tolerant maple. Data further suggest the density of overstory oak was highest in the intermediate opening size (45.7 m), while yellow-poplar increased in the larger opening sizes. Evaluation of species shifts between 1981 and 2008 showed that relative basal area of maple increased across all treatments. Relative basal areas from 45.7 to 76.2 m openings suggest declines in yellow-poplar and other non-commercial species were balanced by increases in oak and maple.     

Growth of planted seedlings inside protective sleeves under strip openings of different widths in a post-agricultural forest

Many second growth forests have poor regeneration and in some spatial and economic context, such as post-agricultural forests, it may be beneficial to increase tree diversity. We planted seedlings of yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) in strip openings of 3, 6 and 9 m width to control light. Individual mesh sleeves were used to reduce browsing pressure but they also reduced available light for seedlings: a large mesh and a small mesh sleeves were tested in each opening. Available light for seedlings ranged from 5 to 46% of full sunlight. First year growth was almost non-responsive to all treatments for both species, but birch showed strong responses during second year. Birches in the large mesh sleeve and the 9 m opening had the largest height and diameter increments, while those in the small mesh sleeve and the 3 m opening had the smallest increments. Small mesh sleeves increased the height over stem diameter ratio for both species. Treatments affected several other morphometric variables of birch but none of the oak. More time is needed to assert if bur oak can be a candidate species for enrichment planting. We recommend strip openings of 9 m width and large mesh sleeves, for protection against deer browsing, while controlling neighbouring competition, to promote artificial regeneration of hardwood species.     

Forest Road Detection Using LiDAR Data

We developed a three-step classification approach for forest road extraction utilizing LiDAR data. The first step employed the IDW method to interpolate LiDAR point data （first and last pulses） to achieve DSM, DTM and DNTM layers （at 1 m resolution）. For this interpolation RMSE was 0.19 m. In the second step, the Support Vector Machine （SVM） was employed to classify the LiDAR data into two classes, road and non-road. For this classification, SVM indicated the merged distance layer with intensity data and yielded better identification of the road position. Assessments of the obtained results showed 63% correctness, 75% completeness and 52% quality of classification. In the next step, road edges were defined in the LiDAR-extracted layers, enabling accu- rate digitizing of the centerline location. More than 95% of the Li- DAR-derived road was digitized within 1.3 m to the field surveyed nor- rnal. The proposed approach can provide thorough and accurate road inventory data to support forest management.     

Seismic performance of post-and-beam timber buildings II: reliability evaluations

This paper presents an approach to evaluate the performance reliability of post-and-beam timber buildings under seismic excitation. The uncertainties considered include those associated with the earthquake ground motions, the structural mass and shear wall characteristics. The approach uses a verified structural model called “PB3D” for the creation of a database of seismic responses, which are then represented by appropriate response surfaces. These, in turn, are used to formulate explicit performance functions for the reliability analysis. Performance is studied in terms of peak inter-story drift, and polynomial functions are used to represent the seismic response surfaces. Non-performance probabilities are evaluated with respect to different performance expectations, using FORM and importance sampling methods. Case studies for two multi-story post-and-beam buildings are also presented.     

Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration on the nutrient uptake characteristics of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi)

We evaluated the response of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Sieb. & Zucc.) to elevated atmospheric CO(2) concentration ([CO(2)]) (689 +/- 75 ppm in 2002 and 697 +/- 90 ppm in 2003) over 2 years in a field experiment with open-top chambers. Root activity was assessed as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake rates estimated from successive measurements of absorbed amounts. Dry matter production of whole plants was unaffected by elevated [CO(2)] in the first year of treatment, but increased significantly in response to elevated [CO(2)] in the second year. In contrast, elevated [CO(2)] increased the root to shoot ratio and fine root dry mass in the first year, but not in the second year. Elevated [CO(2)] had no effect on tissue N, P and K concentrations. Uptake rates of N, P and K correlated with whole-plant relative growth rates, but were unaffected by growth [CO(2)], as was ectomycorrhizal colonization, a factor assumed to be important for nutrient uptake in trees. We conclude that improved growth of Larix kaempferi in response to elevated [CO(2)] is accompanied by increased root biomass, but not by increased root activity.     

The combined effect of wetting ability and durability on outdoor performance of wood: development and verification of a new prediction approach

Comprehensive approaches to predict performance of wood products are requested by international standards, and the first attempts have been made in the frame of European research projects. However, there is still an imminent need for a methodology to implement the durability and moisture performance of wood in an engineering design method and performance classification system. The aim of this study was therefore to establish an approach to predict service life of wood above ground taking into account the combined effect of wetting ability and durability data. A comprehensive data set was obtained from laboratory durability tests and still ongoing field trials in Norway, Germany and Sweden. In addition, four different wetting ability tests were performed with the same material. Based on a dose–response concept, decay rates for specimens exposed above ground were predicted implementing various indicating factors. A model was developed and optimised taking into account the resistance of wood against soft, white and brown rot as well as relevant types of water uptake and release. Decay rates from above-ground field tests at different test sites in Norway were predicted with the model. In a second step, the model was validated using data from laboratory and field tests performed in Germany and Sweden. The model was found to be fairly reliable, and it has the advantage to get implemented into existing engineering design guidelines. The approach at hand might furthermore be used for implementing wetting ability data into performance classification as requested by European standardisation bodies.     

Germination and seedling growth of Quercus (section Erythrobalanus) across openings in a mixed-deciduous forest of southern New England, USA

In this study three species of the genus Quercus section Erythrobalanus (Quercus coccinea, Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina) were investigated. All occur together as canopy trees in forests of southern New England. Acorns of each Quercus species were planted in plots located in five zones that represent a range of forest gap/canopy conditions that can occur within a southern New England forest. These five zones were demarcated adjacent to and across large openings of two physiographic sites—valley and ridgetop. Experiments were designed to monitor germination and initial growth of seedlings for the first three growing seasons. During the start of the first growing season germination was monitored. At the end of the first growing season measurements of height and number of flushes were taken and destructive samples of seedlings made for dry mass of root, stem and leaves. At the end of the third growing season height was recorded for surviving seedlings. Comparisons were made of germination and growth of seedlings located in the different gap/canopy conditions.

Results demonstrated clear differences in patterns of germination and early growth among species and among gap/canopy conditions of the sites. All species showed an increased lag in germination with reduced amounts of light. Highest growth and flushing rate were in the center conditions of the openings for all species during the first growing season. Quercus rubra had the greatest height growth the first growing season but a lower number of flushes than Q. velutina and Q. coccinea. In comparison with the other species, Q. rubra had the greatest total dry mass in most gap/canopy conditions after the first growing season. However, Q. velutina had the greatest total dry mass in the center of the ridgetop opening. In almost all gap/canopy conditions Q. velutina had greater proportions of dry mass allocated to roots compared with the other species.

After 3 years, greatest height growth in any of the gap/canopy conditions was recorded for all three species in the center of the valley site. Under this condition Q. rubra had significantly greater growth than Q. velutina and Q. coccinea. Quercus rubra also had significantly greater height growth and survival beneath the canopy conditions of the valley site than the other species. On the ridgetop site regeneration failed to establish beneath canopy conditions that provided low amounts of light. Quercus velutina showed greatest height growth after three years in the center and edge conditions of the ridgetop opening compared with the other species. Environmental influences that determine species germination and growth performance are suggested.     

Effects of elevated CO(2) concentration on leaf characteristics and photosynthetic capacity of beech (Fagus sylvatica) during the growing season

Two-year-old beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) saplings were planted directly in the ground at high density (100 per m(2)), in an experimental design that realistically mimicked field conditions, and grown for two years in air containing CO(2) at either ambient or an elevated (ambient + 350 ppm) concentration. Plant dry mass and leaf area were increased by a two-year exposure to elevated CO(2). The saplings produced physiologically distinct types of sun leaves associated with the first and second growth flushes. Leaves of the second flush had a higher leaf mass per unit area and less chlorophyll per unit area, per unit dry mass and per unit nitrogen than leaves of the first flush. Chlorophyll content expressed per unit nitrogen decreased over time in plants grown in elevated CO(2), which suggests that, in elevated CO(2), less nitrogen was invested in machinery of the photosynthetic light reactions. In early summer, the photosynthetic capacity measured at saturating irradiance and CO(2) was slightly but not significantly higher in saplings grown in elevated CO(2) than in saplings grown in ambient CO(2). However, a decrease in photosynthetic capacity was observed after July in leaves of saplings grown in CO(2)-enriched air. The results demonstrate that photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO(2) can occur in field-grown saplings in late summer, at the time of growth cessation.     

Development of wooden portal frame structures with improved columns

In Japan, the lifetime cycle of most housing lasts around 20–30 years. A governing factor in this respect is poor durability due to old-fashioned use of the house. As a solution of this problem, houses can be built with a skeleton structure that allows free partition of spaces by future owners. To develop the skeleton structure effectively, multistory frames with spans of 6 to 10 m are required. For this reason, attention has been focused on the behavior of multistory timber frame structures. In this article, two types of wooden portal frame structures are proposed. Both structures have improved vertical columns with short horizontal members glued in. The aim of this study was to investigate structurally effective solutions with these types of columns. The first type of the new structure changed the location of the moment-transmitting ductile connection with the improved columns. The second type of structure used an extended panel zone. Nine portal frame specimens were tested. The stiffness values were improved by around 1.7 and 3.5 times when compared with the control, and the strength was improved by around 1.25 and 1.45 times.     

Collapsing process simulations of timber structures under dynamic loading III: numerical simulations of real-size wooden houses

In this study, we developed a new analysis method that enables numerical simulations of the collapse process of real-size wooden houses and evaluated the accuracy thereof by carrying out numerical simulations by shaking table tests. The distinct element method was adopted as the basic theory of our numerical analysis. This research is the first approach in which the extended distinct element method was used for Japanese timber post-and-beam construction. The size of the analysis model is a 5.5 m × 5.5 m, two-story real-size wooden house. The three analytical models were developed in terms of the strength of exterior mortar walls. The simulation results were compared with the shaking table test results. One of the collapsing processes of the numerical simulation corresponds well to the experiment results. Assessment of the possibility of collapse for real-size wooden houses was determined to be possible using our newly developed numerical analysis method.