Seismic resilience of plywood-coupled LVL wall panels

The results indicate good seismic performance, characterized by negligible damage of the structural members and very small residual deformations. The only component significantly damaged is the nailed connection between the plywood sheet and the LVL wall panels. Although the nails yield and there is a reduction in stiffness, the system exhibits a stable performance without any major degradation throughout the loading regime. After an earthquake, the plywood can be easily removed and replaced with new sheets, which are reasonably cheap and easy to install, allowing for major reduction in downtime. With these additional benefits the concept deserves further considerations as a potentially alternative solution for multi-storey timber buildings.