Vertical Deformations in Tall Timber Buildings: Sources and In-Field Estimations

Tall timber building ‘structural components may undergo severe vertical deformations due to the action of different loads/load combinations during their lifetime. These deformations, basically unusual or negligible for low and mid-rise buildings ‘components, could harshly affect the overall stability of TTBs; therefore, specific estimation methods and mitigation intervention must be established. A deeper understanding of the short- and long-term deformation behavior of large span and highly loaded components is crucial for improving future design possibilities for TTBs, particularly concerning serviceability during both construction and operational phases. In the following paragraphs, an overview of the current analytical formulations and experimental methods for the estimation of vertical deformations is provided. Firstly, since for practitioners it is essential to adopt clear formulation, the provision included in the main standards are discussed. Secondly, the discussion concerns the experimental methodology for the assessment of in-situ vertical deformations.