Nonlinear seismic analysis of RC structure using CLT panel in Midas Gen

In current times, many structures designed during the twentieth century lack modern design techniques and codes, necessitating the application of modern retrofitting techniques defined by building codes to maintain their functionality. This study focuses on an RC building in the Catania region of Italy to assess the effectiveness of adding Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) struts. The process begins with modeling the structure in Finite Element software, Midas GEN, followed by an analysis of its behavior under seismic actions, incorporating both linear and non-linear methods as stipulated by building codes. Inelastic hinge properties essential for Pushover (PO) and time history analysis (TH) are defined in accordance with Eurocodes. The analysis encompasses five different cases: Case 1 serves as the baseline with a bare frame structure, while the other four cases involve various CLT strut arrangements for retrofitting. The modeling of connections between CLT struts and RC beams at each storey level is achieved using the general links option in Midas GEN. The study showed that the addition of CLT panels significantly enhances the building’s resistance to earthquake-induced lateral displacements, simultaneously enhancing overall stiffness. This retrofitting strategy reduces energy dissipation and demonstrates noteworthy improvements in hinge performance, particularly in flexural cases, although its impact on shear hinge performance is less pronounced.