Technical feasibility study for the construction of modular light wood-frame prefabricated buildings, of six-story at high seismic risk regions

Abstract

A research project was carried out by first time in Chile to determine the Lateral-Force-Resisting-System for a prefabricated modular 6-story wood light-frame building, to be able to withstand the Chilean seismic solicitations and the high regulations demands regard the stiffness required to accomplish the admissible inter-story displacements provision on the NCh433 code. Through cyclic testing of wall elements combined with computational models using the test results as input to develop the mathematical models, it was possible to determine the needed structural feasibility, and thus the first 6-story wood light-frame building is currently being built in a Chilean mining company.