When – Monday 27th July 2026
Where – Room 401, Building 401, University of Auckland - 20 Symonds Street, Auckland Central, Auckland.
Agenda –
17:30 pre-presentation refreshments
18:00 presentation
Please register for this presentation below:
Large-Scale Validation of Innovative Seismic Isolation System for Mass Timber Buildings
Description:
Registration opens at 15-07-2026 18:32
Registration closes at 27-07-2026 16:00
Max Participants: 100
Registered Users:
- 2024693
- shongwai
- Alan Scaria
- dugl999
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Abstract:
The demand for resilient and rapidly constructible buildings has accelerated the adoption of prefabricated modular mass timber systems. However, their seismic resilience remains a critical challenge in regions of high seismicity. This presentation demonstrates the outcomes of a large-scale experimental investigation into a novel inter-storey isolation system designed to achieve low-damage seismic performance in prefabricated modular mass timber buildings.
A full-scale two-storey cross-laminated timber (CLT) modular specimen was tested on the University of Auckland's Large-Scale Shake Table under a series of unidirectional and bidirectional earthquake excitations representative of New Zealand seismic hazards. The proposed isolation system combines friction-based energy dissipation with self-centring mechanisms to concentrate inelastic response within the isolation interface while protecting the primary timber structure. The experimental programme demonstrated stable and repeatable behaviour, excellent self-centring capability, negligible residual drift, and no observable structural damage under the imposed earthquake demands. The findings confirm the effectiveness of inter-storey isolation in significantly reducing seismic demands while maintaining structural integrity and functionality.
The presentation will discuss the experimental programme, key observations, and the implications of this technology for the future design of resilient, low-damage modular timber buildings in New Zealand and other earthquake-prone regions.
Presenter Biographies:
Ashkan Hashemi
Dr Ashkan Hashemi is a Senior Lecturer in Structural and Earthquake Engineering at the University of Auckland. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, with expertise in low-damage structural systems, seismic resilience, timber and hybrid structures, and performance-based design. His work focuses on translating research into practical engineering solutions through large-scale experimental testing, analytical research and close collaboration with industry. Ashkan has led and contributed to numerous research projects in New Zealand and internationally.
Rajnil Lal
Rajnil Rohit Lal is a final-year PhD candidate in Structural Engineering at the University of Auckland, where his research focuses on advancing low-damage seismic technologies for prefabricated modular mass timber buildings. His work integrates analytical modelling, numerical simulation, and full-scale experimental testing to develop resilient structural systems that minimise earthquake damage while enabling rapid post-earthquake recovery. His doctoral research has culminated in one of New Zealand's largest full-scale shake table investigations of an innovative inter-storey isolation system for modular timber construction. The research provides valuable insights into the seismic performance of self-centring and friction-based technologies and contributes to the development of practical design approaches for resilient timber structures in earthquake-prone regions.
In addition to his research, Rajnil has gained extensive professional experience in the seismic design, assessment, and retrofit of existing buildings across New Zealand and internationally. His scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed journal publications as well as conference proceedings presented at prestigious international conferences, including the World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (WCEE), the World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE), and the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE). Rajnil is passionate about bridging research and engineering practice to deliver innovative, sustainable, and resilient structural solutions that shape the future of earthquake engineering.