Earthquake safety of Jelovica Homes confirmed by research
It was evident already after the earthquakes in 1998 and 2004 that Jelovica prefabricated homes withstood seismic shocks exceptionally well as they suffered no significant damage.
To confirm the earthquake resistance scientifically, we conducted extensive research and testing of the behavior of frame-panel wall elements with cement-bonded particle boards under vertical and horizontal loads. The experiments were conducted in collaboration with the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG). The scientific contribution from the research on frame-panel walls and the results of the analyses were presented in at the Assembly of Structural Engineers that took place in Bled in November 2020.
Jelovica has been using cement-bonded particle boards as one of the main components of its construction systems for decades. We have positive experiences with the use of cement-bonded particle boards in the production of wall elements, their installation in buildings, and especially their good performance throughout the entire lifespan of the building – as has also been confirmed by many of our customers.
Proven versatility and excellence of cement-bonded barticle board
Cement-bonded particle boards are characterised by extremely good load-bearing capacity as well as being non-combustible, providing sound insulating and having thermal mass. They are permanently resistant to moisture and mould formation. They can be exposed to weather conditions for a long time without consequences, whereas gypsum fiber boards or OSBs need to be protected from rain.
Laboratory tests of the load-bearing capacity of wall panels with cement-bonded particle boards have confirmed a favourable damage mechanism of the panels under shear loading and their ductile behaviour. Under shear loading, cement-bonded particle boards do not fail brittlely as the boards only crack minimally at the corners. Ductility is very important when selecting structural elements as it provides additional safety against collapse of the building during strong seismic shocks.
Testing of an actual-size wall sample.
Comparison of the results of mechanical tests and analytical calculations has confirmed that the assumptions considered in the calculation of the panels’ load-bearing capacity according to the current European standards for structural design (Eurocode) are on the safe side.
Compared to a traditional brick house, a Jelovica prefabricated wooden house has a significantly lower mass, therefore the inertial forces on the prefabricated structure during an earthquake are significantly lower. Frame-panel walls, which consist of a wooden frame to which cement-bonded particle boards are attached with staples, effectively withstand tensile-compressive and shear forces that occur as a result of an earthquake. Ductile prefabricated joints between structural elements act as dampers for the release of kinetic energy.
Read more about this in the technical report Earthquake Resistance of Jelovica Wooden Houses Confirmed by Research.
In 2020, we presented two papers from the mentioned research on frame-panel walls at the WCTE2020 World Conference on Timber Engineering. The research and scientific contribution were prepared by dr. Meta Kržan, dr and Tomaž Palzar, both from ZAG, as well as dr. Boštjan Ber and Ivan Grašič, both from Jelovica Homes.