Abstract
Focus of this paper is likely effects of differential movements due to shrinkage in relatively tall and large (circa 8-storey non-residential) hybrid buildings that combine glued-laminated-timber (glulam) frameworks and cast-in-place reinforced concrete (RC) building cores in their superstructure systems. In such systems RC cores act as stiff lateral load resisting substructures to which a glulam skeleton framework is directly attached. A simplified preliminary three-dimensional finite element analysis of deformations and internal forces created by combined effects of RC and timber shrinkage is presented. Based on that analysis it is concluded that shrinkage, occurring after concrete is cast and timber is placed into position, could have significant impact on the performance of structural components and the entire systems if close attention is not paid to construction details and practices. Effective countermeasures against poor performance focus on correct choice and correct installation of connections within glulam frameworks and between those frameworks and RC building cores. Although some major issues have already been identified the investigation reported here is far from complete and will continue for about 2 more years. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection