Structural Timber for Seismic-Resilient Cities: An Overview

Timber, with its prerogatives of low life-cycle impact, carbon storage, excellent strength-to-weight ratio, and good thermal and acoustic properties, represents an attractive for building systems in many regions. Moreover, disasters triggered by natural events have highlighted the benefits offered by structural timber in providing efficiencies for resilient and sustainable cities. The present paper presents an overview on the use of structural timber in constructions in Europe, with emphasis on new trends and research advancements in seismic-resilient cities. Importance is given to the potentialities offered by structural timber in promoting innovative and high-performing structural solutions for mitigating the effects related to natural events. Based on a bibliometric selection analysis, the paper focuses on: (i) new timber-based products and/or subassemblies used for low-, medium- and high-rise seismic-resilient constructions; (ii) timber-based solutions for combined seismic and energetic retrofits of existing masonry and reinforced concrete buildings or for realizing new buildings; and (iii) updating codes and guidelines. The peculiarities of each selected topic are discussed in detail and properly referenced. The aspects highlighted in the present research can represent guidance for experts in the sector, and for those now approaching, by identifying the current state of research advancement. On the other hand, they can also support practitioners in selecting new solutions and understanding the limits and potentialities offered by them.