Characterization of the mechanical behaviour of light-frame timber shear walls through full-scale tests

For the horizontal stability of wood framed buildings, diaphragm action in the walls is of crucial importance. For this reason the mechanical behaviour of these walls subjected to in-plane forces have been investigated. 11 monotonic and 11 cyclic destructive tests were performed on full scale walls (2.5 m × 2.5 m). In order to recreate the real walls boundary condition a specific test set-up was built. Different parameters were changed during the tests. Different vertical loads were applied, different angle brackets and hold-downs were used and different sheathing panels were connected to the wood frame. Also the presence of openings were investigated. Furthermore two walls with nonstructural finishing were tested to correlate the inter storey drift with the level of damage. Data obtained from the experimental tests highlighted the role of vertical load in the mechanical behaviour in term of resistance and stiffness of the walls, and in terms of the type of failure, which can occur in the holdown elements or in the connection between stud and sheathing panel. The data collected from these tests were then used within a frame of a research project aimed to characterize the behaviour of multi-storey timber buildings taking into account the properties of the structural components; the final step of the research is the validation of the behaviour of a three storey wood frame building subjected to a seismic event in a shaking table test.