Cyclic behavior of wood-frame shear walls with vertical load and bending moment for mid-rise timber buildings. (1st August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Orellana, Paúl; Santa María, Hernán; Almazán, José Luis; Estrella, Xavier
• Is Part Of: Engineering structures. Volume 240(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-08-01
• Subjects: Mid-rise timber buildings -- Wood-frame shear walls -- Cyclic behavior -- Shear strength -- Shear stiffness -- Sturdy end-studs -- Strong hold-downs -- Vertical load -- Bending moment; Structural engineering -- Periodicals; Structural analysis (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Construction, Technique de la -- Périodiques; Génie parasismique -- Périodiques; Pression du vent -- Périodiques; Earthquake engineering; Structural engineering; Wind-pressure; Periodicals; 624.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112298
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-0296

Abstract

Highlights: Eight wood-frame walls were tested under high gravitational load and bending moment. Wood-frame walls with high gravitational load are stronger and stiffer. Better designs could be performed when considering gravitational load. Abstract: In light wood-frame buildings, the gravitational and lateral force-resisting systems are composed of floor diaphragms and shear walls. During an earthquake, these walls are subjected to the simultaneous action of in-plane vertical force, shear force, and in-plane bending moment. In a mid-rise building, these internal forces can reach large magnitudes, especially on the lower stories, and could have an important influence on the lateral behavior of the walls. The historical use of light wood-frame construction has been in low-rise buildings. Consequently, few investigations have analyzed the effects of high gravitational forces or in-plane bending moment on the lateral behavior of wood shear walls designed for multi-story buildings. This paper presents an investigation of the cyclic lateral behavior of light wood-frame shear walls, designed for mid-rise buildings, subjected to large axial compressive load and in-plane bending moment. Eight wall specimens were experimentally tested with a cyclic lateral displacement protocol, a constant compressive load, and a cyclic in-plane bending moment. The effects of axial compressive load and in-plane bending moment were analyzed. Also, the wall length and the spacing of sheathing nails were varied to study the effects of these variables on the response. A numerical study was performed to show how these effects could influence the response of mid-rise timber buildings. An improvement in the lateral performance of the walls was observed compared to walls tested without compressive force nor bending moment, showing an increase in stiffness, load-carrying capacity, and dissipated energy.