The construction of a six-story timber building in one of Italy's most seismically active regions posed substantial engineering challenges. Modena experienced a major earthquake in 2012, so ensuring the building's seismic performance was critical for this project.
The lateral force-resisting system is made entirely of cross-laminated timber, including the elevator and stair shafts. These shafts were designed with single CLT panels measuring 2.5 m × 15.5 m to achieve the necessary stiffness and strength. The panels run continuously from the ground floor to the roof. Transporting and installing these exceptionally large elements required special logistics planning and precise crane operations.
The project also required developing custom seismic connections tailored to the building’s specific geometry and load paths. Using FEM dynamic analysis in RFEM, the engineering team calculated the forces between the CLT walls and the reinforced concrete foundations. The analysis revealed tension forces of approximately 500 kN, highlighting the impressive capacity and reliability of the timber structure.
Strict adherence to Eurocode 8 ensured that the building met all standards for seismic-resistant design.
Structural Analysis and Design
The engineering team used an advanced BIM workflow to coordinate every stage of the project and maintain complete control over design accuracy. Production drawings were developed up to Level of Detail (LOD) 400, enabling precise prefabrication and streamlined on-site assembly.
Comprehensive FEM dynamic analysis in RFEM played a central role in verifying the building’s seismic performance. These calculations offered detailed insights into the behavior of the CLT shear walls, large-scale vertical panels, and custom "earthquake-proof" steel connections.
The CLT shafts, constructed from single, continuous panels, provided the building’s primary lateral stability, ensuring stiffness and load transfer throughout all six stories. Customized connectors and anchorage systems were designed to accommodate high tensile forces and comply with Eurocode 8, thereby reinforcing the structure’s resilience in a high-seismic environment.
| Location | Modena, Italy |
| Structural Analysis and Design | Ergodomus di Franco Piva Località Fratte, 18/4 38057 Pergine Valsugana, Italia www.ergodomus.it |
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