Physics-Based Flood Fragility Modeling of CLT Shear Walls

In this study, a physics-based, performance-oriented framework to estimate the probability of failure of a cross-laminated timber (CLT) shear wall has been proposed. In low-lying coastal regions, residential buildings are becoming more exposed to both the pluvial and fluvial flooding. In previous studies, most structural analysis has been done emphasizing either solely on masonry-wall structures or entire building structures made of wood. In this study, the CLT shear wall has been subjected to flood-induced load. The wall demand is expressed in terms of a combination of hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces, with the water depth acting as the intensity measure. Structural resistance has been computed at the component level by combining the in-plane and out-of-plane resistance models. Among the in-plane, bracket sliding, and rocking capacities, along with their combination has been considered. Whereas for out-of-plane bending resistance, the bending strength of CLT has been considered. Based on the demand and the resistance value, a limit state function has been formulated. Using a series of crude Monte Carlo simulations, the uncertainties in flood depth that lead to the damage state have been calculated. Overall, the results demonstrate that for all the given water depths, the CLT shear wall can withstand the load and avoid structural failure.