Abstract

Chile is a country with a long tradition in wood construction. However, nowadays the majority of structures use masonry and reinforced concrete. The use of softwoods has contributed to the misconception of wood being a low-quality material and has hindered its consolidation as a reliable construction system. Among timber structures, Midply and CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) panel systems become relevant for the Chilean context due to the seismic resistance of their shearwalls. In order to establish the feasibility of these systems in Chile, social, technical, and regulatory aspects were analyzed. These systems were found to be adequate for the Chilean context but with some conditions. In order to implement these systems, it is necessary to change the users' negative perception and to integrate the seismic performance of timber structures into the Chilean code. To analyze the possible architectural applications in Santiago, we propose to upgrade four-story social housing buildings using these systems. Due to increasing demand, these buildings are currently being torn down to build new ones. A more sustainable alternative is to re-use and upgrade the existing buildings, thus densifying the housing complex. The lightness of Midply or CLT panels allows for freedom of design, while its high resistance to lateral loads confers an appropriate seismic behaviour to the whole structure. Its combination with the concrete building can be considered as a unitary structure with the same vibration period, avoiding thus its collapse.