Characterization of mortar-timber and timber-timber cyclic friction in timber floor connections of masonry buildings (dataset)

The seismic performance of buildings depends critically on the stiffness and strength of
storey diaphragms. Whilst for modern reinforced concrete or steel structures the
connection between floors and lateral resisting members is often assumed as
monolithic, timber floors and ceilings in masonry buildings are susceptible to sliding in
their supports. In fact, the anchorage of timber beams in masonry walls and
intermediate supports relies partly or totally on a frictional type of resisting mechanism.
The present work contributes to characterize this behaviour by presenting the results of
an extensive experimental programme with cyclic friction triplet tests between mortar
and timber units, and between timber and timber units. These were produced to be
representative of connection typologies characteristic of pre-modern and contemporary
construction periods. Each test was performed under a constant level of contact
pressure, which was increased throughout each series to cover a range of normal
forces foreseeable in building connections. Other aspects are also discussed, such as
the influence of cumulative loading or velocity. The experimental dataset is herein made
available for public use.