Sequential Phased Displacement Tests of Wood-framed Shear Walls with Corners

This study expands and augments a research project conducted to quantify the effect of overturning restraint on full-scale shear walls. This study aimed to quantify the effects of corners on uplift restraint of wood frame shear walls tested reversed cyclically and to initiate experiments to quantify an engineering analysis approach for conventional wood-framed shear walls (i.e. without overturning restraint). Four walls with different corner framing were tested under cyclic loading. The measured wall capacities were compared with long straight walls tested by Dolan and Heine. Based on the results of the tests, the authors concluded that: 1) Corner framing generally provides a hold-down effect that increases wall capacity and ductility when compared to straight walls with no overturning restraint and no perpendicular walls attached; 2) The hold-down effect provided by corner framing is sufficient to provide for development of unit shear slightly less than straight walls with hold-down devices; 3) Walls with corner framing showed no apparent racking of the sheathing. The walls responded mainly through rigid body rotation until complete separation from the bottom plate occurred. There was no nail fatigue or signs of damage at joints between drywall panels.

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