Simulation of Post-Tensioned CLT Rocking Wall and Platform Structure Response Under Earthquake Lateral Loads with Simplified Equivalent Model

Authors

• Yunxiang Ma, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Qingli Dai, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Da Huang, Colorado School of Mines
• Miaomiao Li, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Xiang Zhao, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-14-2026

Department

College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science; Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

Abstract

The post-tensioned cross-laminated timber (CLT) rocking wall is a recently developed resilient CLT lateral force-resisting system with a self-centering feature. The structural responses of the systems with different designs need to be determined and evaluated efficiently to promote the development and standardization of industrial applications. This study developed a computationally efficient, component-assembled numerical model for post-tensioned cross-laminated timber (PT CLT) rocking walls that captures decompression, post-tension self-centering, and energy dissipation within a framework. The single wall model was assembled using nonlinear zero-length springs for the compression at the CLT bottom, truss bar element for the PT tendon, and elastic shell element for the CLT panel deformation. The energy dissipation device, the UFP, was modeled with nonlinear one-dimensional springs between the wall panels in the coupled wall model. The wall models were separately calibrated considering the wall designs of single-panel walls and coupled walls. Both single and coupled wall models predicted the initial stiffness, decompression, yielding, post-yield stiffness, and reloading/unloading stiffness. The residual drift and nonlinear unloading captured with the PT model were also validated with the test data. A two-story platform structure model was established based on the NHERI Tallwood project, assembled with the coupled wall model and CLT slab in shell elements and columns in Euler beam elements. With recorded ground acceleration signals from the test, the platform structure’s peak story displacement and inter-story drift were simulated with less than 30% differences for most cases. Unlike existing detailed contact-based models, the proposed approach balances local damage fidelity and computational efficiency. The validated model provides a framework for evaluating PT CLT wall design parameters considering their influence on full structures.

Publisher's Statement

Copyright: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16101948

Publication Title

Buildings

Recommended Citation

Ma, Y., Dai, Q., Huang, D., Li, M., & Zhao, X. (2026). Simulation of Post-Tensioned CLT Rocking Wall and Platform Structure Response Under Earthquake Lateral Loads with Simplified Equivalent Model. Buildings, 16(10). http://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16101948
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/2640

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Version

Publisher's PDF