Connector for use in inter-panel connection between shear wall elements

1. An apparatus to fasten two mass timber shear wall panels together along respective abutted vertical edges of the mass timber shear wall panels, the apparatus comprising:

a first, and a second, generally rectangular steel plate connector respectively attached to an opposing face of the two mass timber shear wall panels, wherein each generally rectangular steel plate connector:

has an initial stiffness in the absence of being subjected to an earthquake;

maintains the initial stiffness when subjected to an earthquake that is less than a service level earthquake or a wind event that is less than an ultimate wind event so that the two mass timber shear wall panels move together as a single body; and

decreases in stiffness through ductile deformation of the generally rectangular steel plate connector when subjected to an earthquake that is equal to or greater than the service level earthquake or a wind event that is equal to or greater than the ultimate wind event so that the two mass timber shear wall panels move independently with respect to each other;

a first cover panel placed on an outside face of the first generally rectangular steel plate connector; and

a second cover panel placed on an outside face of the second generally rectangular steel plate connector and through-bolted to the first cover panel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the service level earthquake comprises ground shaking represented by an elastic, 2.5%-damped, acceleration response spectrum that has a mean return period of 43 years, approximately equivalent to a 50% exceedance probability in 30 years.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ultimate wind loading event comprises a wind loading event with an ultimate 3-second gust wind speed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a measure of a displacement of the two mass timber shear wall panels when the two mass timber shear wall panels move independently with respect to each other is in a range of 4-6% of lateral displacement per height of the two mass timber shear wall panels.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each generally rectangular steel plate connector, when subjected to the earthquake that is equal to or greater than service level earthquake or a wind event that is equal to or greater than ultimate wind event so that the two mass timber shear wall panels move independently with respect to each other, achieves a low stiffness plastic state that allows each of the two mass timber shear wall panels to rotate or rock about a respective base connection point.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each generally rectangular steel plate connector that decreases in stiffness through ductile deformation of the generally rectangular steel plate connector decreases in stiffness by buckling to allow each of the two mass timber shear wall panels to rotate or rock about a respective base connection point.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each generally rectangular steel plate connector is fastened to each of the two mass timber shear wall panels by one or more of a plurality of nails, bolts, screws, and an adhesive bond.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each generally rectangular steel plate connector achieves a clearly defined load at which the generally rectangular steel plate connector changes from the initial stiffness to the decreased stiffness to allow displacement of a wall comprising mass timber shear wall panels connected together with the generally rectangular steel plate connector when subjected to the earthquake that is equal to or greater than the service level earthquake or the wind event that is equal to or greater than the ultimate wind event.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the clearly defined load is a proportional limit of the generally rectangular steel plate connector where a linear-elastic yield strain of metal in the generally rectangular steel plate connector is attained and beyond which a non-linear inelastic strain develops in the metal of the generally rectangular steel plate connector.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the proportional limit of the generally rectangular steel plate connector is a force level of approximately 2 kips.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each generally rectangular steel plate connector that decreases from the initial stiffness through ductile deformation of the generally rectangular steel plate connector comprises steel leaves in the generally rectangular steel plate connector that provide the initial stiffness in the generally rectangular steel plate connector beginning to buckle and yield to provide the decrease in stiffness in the generally rectangular steel plate connector.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each generally rectangular steel plate connector has a plurality of generally parallel slots, and wherein each of the plurality of generally parallel slots of the generally rectangular steel plate connector has a width at a midpoint of the slot that is greater than a width at either of an end of the slot by which the slot is tapered from the midpoint to either end of the slot, and wherein the generally rectangular steel plate connector having the initial stiffness that decreases through ductile deformation of the generally rectangular steel plate connector comprises the generally rectangular steel plate connector having the initial stiffness that decreases through buckling of the generally rectangular steel plate connector about the plurality of generally parallel slots of the generally rectangular steel plate connector.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each generally rectangular steel plate connector has a plurality of generally parallel slots,

wherein the plurality of generally parallel slots of the generally rectangular steel plate connector are oriented horizontally, and

wherein the generally rectangular steel plate connector that fastens the two mass timber shear wall panels together along respective abutted vertical edges of the mass timber shear wall panels is positioned such that the abutted vertical edges of the mass timber shear wall panels are at a midpoint of each of the plurality of generally parallel slots of the generally rectangular steel plate.

14. An apparatus to fasten two mass timber shear wall panels together along respective abutted vertical edges of the mass timber shear wall panels, the apparatus comprising:

a first, and a second, generally rectangular steel plate connector respectively attached to opposing faces of the two mass timber shear wall panels, that:

has a plurality of generally parallel slots, each having a width at a midpoint of the slot that is greater than a width at either of an end of the slot by which the slot is tapered from the midpoint to either end of the slot;

has an initial stiffness in the absence of being subjected to an earthquake; maintains the initial stiffness when subjected to an earthquake that is less than a service level earthquake or a wind event that is less than an ultimate wind event so that the two mass timber shear wall panels move together as a single body; and

decreases in stiffness through buckling of the generally rectangular steel plate connector about the plurality of generally parallel slots of the generally rectangular steel plate connector when subjected to an earthquake that is equal to or greater than the service level earthquake or wind event that is equal to or greater than the ultimate wind event so that the two mass timber shear wall panels move independently with respect to each other;

a first cover panel placed on an outside face of the first generally rectangular steel plate connector; and

a second cover panel placed on an outside face of the second generally rectangular steel plate connector and through-bolted to the first cover panel.

15. An apparatus to fasten two adjacent mass timber shear wall panels together, the apparatus comprising:

a first, and a second, generally rectangular steel plate connector, a respective first portion thereof embedded within a first of the two adjacent mass timber shear wall panels, and a respective second portion thereof embedded within a second of the two adjacent mass timber shear wall panels, wherein each generally rectangular steel plate connector:

has an initial stiffness in the absence of being subjected to an earthquake;

maintains the initial stiffness when subjected to an earthquake that is less than a service level earthquake or a wind event that is less than an ultimate wind event so that the two mass timber shear wall panels move together as a single body; and

decreases in stiffness through ductile deformation of the generally rectangular steel plate connector when subjected to an earthquake that is equal to or greater than the service level earthquake or a wind event that is equal to or greater than the ultimate wind event so that the two mass timber shear wall panels move independently with respect to each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a volume of panel material at least the dimension of the first portion of the respective generally rectangular steel connector embedded within the first mass timber shear wall panel is removed from the first mass timber shear wall panel, and

wherein the first portion of the respective generally rectangular steel plate connector embedded within the first mass timber shear wall panel, comprises the first portion of the respective generally rectangular steel plate connector embedded within the removed volume of panel material in the respective mass timber wall panel.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the volume of panel material that is removed from the first mass timber shear wall panel comprises a removed volume of panel material greater in width, and length of the first portion of the generally rectangular steel plate connector embedded within the mass timber sheer wall panel.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein a depth of the volume of panel material that is removed from the first mass timber shear wall panel is equal to or greater than a thickness of the generally rectangular steel plate connector.