OPEN ACCESS
The resistance to horizontal loads provided by timber constructions is determined by the racking resistance of the timber frame walls within the structure. In Eurocode 5 (EN 1995-1-1), two methods are described to assess the racking resistance of these structural elements. Method A refers to a mechanical model while method B is empirically based and therefore less attractive. When using method A, full anchorage of the leading stud is needed. Moreover, contributions of wall panels with openings are neglected in the assessment of the racking resistance. In this paper, an experimental campaign studying the racking resistance of partially anchored walls with different wall and loading configurations is presented. The study shows that window and door openings lead to a reduction of the racking resistance of the wall depending on the size of the opening. Additionally, a comparison between the experimental data and several design methods for the assessment of the racking resistance of the wall panels is made.
experimental campaign; racking resistance; timber frame wall panels
[1] EN 1995-1-1, Eurocode 5: Design of timber structures - Part 1-1: General - Common rules and rules for buildings, 2005.
[2] Källsner, B. & Girhammar, U.A., A plastic lower bound method for design of wood-framed shear walls. Proceedings 8th World Conference on Timber engineering. Finland, 14–17 June 2004.
[3] Källsner, B. & Girhammar, U.A., A plastic design method for incompletely anchored wood-framed wall diaphragms. 9th World Conference of Timber Engineering. Portland Oregon USA, 6–10 August 2006.
[4] De Proft, K. Stability of timber constructions: derivations of typical solutions part II: Horizontal stability of timber frame walls, Wood.be, 2013.Figure 9: Comparison between experimental and analytical data.
[5] Sugiyama, H. & Matsumoto T., Empirical equations for the estimation of racking strength of a plywood shear wall with openings. Summary of Technical Papers, Annual Meetings, Trans of A.I.J. Japan, 1994.
[6] Yasamura, M., Racking resistance of panel-sheathed shear walls with opening, Department of Environment and Forest Resources Science, Shizuoka University. Japan, 2010.
[7] Reweghs K., Schrankweerstand van houtskeletwanden: invloed van raam- en deuropeningen, Master thesis, Hasselt University, 2015.
[8] Bureau for Standardisation, NBN EN 594: Timber structures – test methods – Racking strength and stiffness of timber frame wall panels, Brussels, 2011.