Numerical investigation of the in-plane seismic performance of timber log-haus walls with reinforced dovetails

The paper investigates the structural response and vulnerability of timber log-haus walls under in-plane seismic loads. Careful consideration is given to the structural efficiency of additional metal fasteners introduced within the thickness of timber log-walls. To this aim, small-scale specimens are analysed, in order to preliminary explore the actual potential of the proposed solution. The steel reinforcing dovetails, as shown, are aimed to improve the inplane stiffness and ultimate resistance of single log-walls, since traditionally obtained by overlapping simple timber logs by avoiding the use of mechanical fasteners. Taking advantage of past experimental tests, some conclusions are drawn on the observed structural performance of the examined structural typology, compared to unreinforced timber log specimens. A key role is assigned to refined Finite Element numerical models, in which the mechanical properties, as well as possible contact interactions among the timber logs, and the contribution of reinforcing steel dovetails are properly taken into account.