This study was designed to provide empirical and analytical insights into the response of shear walls with corner framing and to determine the uplift load sharing mechanism between the adjacent walls. The project objectives included:

• measuring the performance of conventional wood shear walls (i.e., no hold-downs) and comparing results with the data for engineered wood shear walls (i.e., including hold-downs);
• investigating the restraining effect of the corner return on the lateral response of conventional wood shear walls; and,
• examining the applicability of innovative design methods to conventional wood shear walls restrained against overturning by corner framing.