Nonlinear Racking Analysis of Nailed Walls

Authors

  • Rafik Y. Itani
  • Sergio A. Obregon

Keywords:

Fasteners, framed structures, nails, shear forces, shear strength, sheathing, structural analysis, studs, walls

Abstract

An energy formation of nonlinear analysis of racking resistance of nailed walls is presented. The analysis is dependent on the nonlinear load-slip relationship of nailed connections. The method permits the calculation of the racking force associated with a given horizontal displacement and uses as input data panel geometry, number and spacing of nails, and load distortion relationship of a single connection.

Two 4 ft x 8 ft panels with two thicknesses of 1/2 in. and 5/8 in. plywood are analyzed using linear and nonlinear methods, and results of horizontal displacement versus racking force are displayed graphically. It is shown that while the two methods converge at ultimate loads, true representation of wall behavior at low levels of displacement is best described through nonlinear analysis. Good comparison is obtained with a finite element approach.

References

Atherton, G. H., K. E. Rowe, and K. M. Bastendorff. 1980. Damping and slip of nailed joints. Wood Sci.12(4):218-226.nBurgess, H. J. 1976. Derivation of the wall racking formulas. In TRADA's design guide for timber frame housing. Timber Assoc. Res. and Dev. Assoc. England.nCheney, W., and D. Kincaid. 1980. Numerical mathematics and computing. Brooks/Cole Publishing Company. Pp. 147-156.nCheung, C. K., and R. Y. Itani. 1983. Analysis of sheathed wood-stud walls. Proceedings of the ASCE Eighth Conference on Electronic Computation, Houston, TX. Pp. 683-696.nEasley, J. T., M. Foomani, and R. H. Dobbs. 1982. Formulas for wood shear walls. J. Struct. Div., ASCE, ST 11.nGromala, D. S., and E. W. Price. 1980. Racking strength of walls sheathed with structural flake-boards made from southern species. For. Prod. J.30(12):19-23.nItani, R. Y., R. L. Tuomi, and W. J. McCutcheon. 1982. Methodology to evaluate racking resistance of nailed walls. For. Prod. J.32(1):30-36.nKuenzi, E. W. Some theoretical considerations relating to design criteria for racking resistance of walls. USDA For. Serv., For. Prod. Lab., Madison, WI (Unpublished).nPotter, F. J. 1968. The racking resistance of timber framed wall. Dep. Civ. Eng., Imperial College Sci. Tech., London.nTuomi, R. L., and D. S. Gromala. 1977. Racking strength of walls: Let-in corner bracing, sheet materials, and effect of loading rate. USDA For. Serv. Res. Pap. FPL 301. For. Prod. Lab., Madison, WI.nTuomi, R. L., and W. J. McCutcheon. 1978. Racking strength of light-frame nailed walls. J. Struct. Div., ASCE, 104(ST7):1131-1140.nWalker, G. R. 1978. The design of walls in domestic housing to resist wind. Des. for Trop. Cyclones, Vol. 2, Vacation Sch. Proc., James Cook Univ., Australia.nWalker, G. R. 1979. Racking strength of sheet-clad wall panels. Proc. Diamond Jubilee Conf., Inst. of Eng., Perth, Australia.nWalpole, R. E. 1978. Probability and statistics for engineers and scientists. MacMillan Publishing Company. Pp. 282-284.n

Downloads

Published

2007-06-27

Issue

Number 3 / July 1984

Section

Research Contributions

License

The copyright of an article published in Wood and Fiber Science is transferred to the Society of Wood Science and Technology (for U. S. Government employees: to the extent transferable), effective if and when the article is accepted for publication. This transfer grants the Society of Wood Science and Technology permission to republish all or any part of the article in any form, e.g., reprints for sale, microfiche, proceedings, etc. However, the authors reserve the following as set forth in the Copyright Law:

1. All proprietary rights other than copyright, such as patent rights.

2. The right to grant or refuse permission to third parties to republish all or part of the article or translations thereof. In the case of whole articles, such third parties must obtain Society of Wood Science and Technology written permission as well. However, the Society may grant rights with respect to Journal issues as a whole.

3. The right to use all or part of this article in future works of their own, such as lectures, press releases, reviews, text books, or reprint books.