Quantifying robustness in tall timber buildings: A case study

Robustness research has become popular, however very little is known on its explicit quantification. This paper summarises a quantification method previously published by the main author and proceeds in demonstrating step-by-step application with case study tall timber building. A hypothetical 15-storey post-and-beam building central core designed for normal loads, four improved options are to account abnormal loads order increase building’s robustness. detailed, nonlinear, dynamic Finite Element model set up Abaqus® three ground floor column removal scenarios, Random Forest classifier propagate uncertainties, efficiently estimate probability of certain collapse classes occurring, calculate importance each input parameter. The results show how design improvements at whole scale (e.g., strong floors) have higher impact robustness performance than just improving strength ductility some selected connections, although these exclusive studied. reinforces sound conceptual achieving buildings.