A set of calculation tools supporting the design, modelling and application of plywood-based seismic retrofitting interventions on timber floors in existing buildings

This set of calculation tools supports the design and advanced numerical modelling of timber diaphragms strengthened with plywood panels. The suite of tools allows to first estimate the full nonlinear, cyclic in-plane response of the strengthened diaphragms starting from the geometrical and material properties of the existing sheathing and the plywood overlay, as well as the mechanical characteristics of the fasteners (ApPlyWood software). As second step, such estimated in-plane response can be transformed into a constitutive law for performing nonlinear numerical simulations, by means of a user-supplied subroutine developed for finite element software DIANA FEA (SimPlyWood suite). The implemented tools can be used to both obtain preliminary indication for plywood-based seismic retrofitting design, and to calibrate the interventions on existing diaphragms based on the specific characteristics and needs of a building, relying on the adaptability and versatility of this strengthening method.