Introduction

It is proposed to integrate cross laminated wood cladding into reinforced concrete or steel frames, defining a shared technical sector between the field of non-structural infill panels for framed buildings and that of wooden load-bearing walls. An improvement in the performance of safety, well-being, environmental protection, usability, management and appearance is achieved.

Technical features

Here is described a method to improve the performance of load-bearing framework systems in reinforced concrete or steel through infill panels in crossed laminated wood. In the event of an earthquake, the brick, concrete or plaster infill walls break and collapse, making the buildings unusable even when the frames are not damaged while the infill panels are particularly resistant they can damage the frames. Resistance is weak in the joints because the connections of the steel plates can damage the wood. The invention has structural and environmental objectives: to improve the seismic and energy behaviour of new or existing buildings by intervening on the construction technique and on the material of the vertical infill, resulting in performance improvements also for the other classes of requirements to implement the quality of the buildings. The development stage of the patent is complete and we are proceeding with the assignment of a license for use to a company and with the development of studies on specific cases.

Possible Applications

• New buildings;
• Redevelopment of existing buildings;

Advantages

• Improvement of structural and energetic behaviour;
• Improvement of health;
• Reduction of the environmental impact;
• Reduction of construction, management and maintenance costs and times;
• Optimisation of the possibilities of use and reuse (flexibility of dry solutions).