Thesis
A rational method for the determination of wood frame wall stiffness
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
05/2016
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102728
Abstract
Critical to the analysis of all buildings is the ability to calculate the performance of the lateral force resisting system. Unfortunately due to the indeterminate nature of wood frame building, without extensive modeling, there is not currently a clear methodology for the prediction of wall stiffness. Furthermore, it is common practice to ignore lateral performance contributions of all wood frame walls not specifically detailed as shear walls. This is folly in wood frame buildings as all walls, unless specifically detailed to provide no lateral resistance, will make significant stiffness contributions. The thesis presented here addresses these issues by outlining a rational method for determination of wood frame wall stiffness. This wall stiffness approximation is achieved through the application of empirically developed adjustment factors to the apparent sheathing stiffness values provided by the 2015 Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic (SDPWS). The method and adjustment factors account for the conservatism (relative to strength) of SPDWS stiffness values, stiffness contributions of dissimilar materials, stiffness loss due to wall openings, elastic foundation stiffness loss of second story walls, panel bearing in multi-panel walls, and finally, the presence, location, and performance of hold-downs. With the appropriate stiffness of each wall determined, accuracy of lateral analysis such as center of rigidity (COR) locus predictions and drift calculations can be significantly improved. The presented method relies upon empirical adjustment factors that carry the built in errors from the limited data available in development. However, it can be seen clearly that wall stiffness can be accurately predicted with the use of the empirical adjustment factors and procedures. Consequently, this method is presented as a proof of concept only. Extensive research and data collection will be needed to verify and refine the factors before use in design.
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Details
- Title
- A rational method for the determination of wood frame wall stiffness
- Creators
- Carl Moe Harris
- Contributors
- J. Daniel Dolan (Chair)William Franklin Cofer (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department ofDONALD A BENDER (Committee Member)Steve Pryor (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Number of pages
- 122
- Identifiers
- 99900525056001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis