Testing the influence of system effects on the lateral response in t-shaped wood frame shear walls
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Date
2025
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Abstract
This paper examines the impact of transverse shear walls (TSW), out-of-plane bending stiffness of diaphragms (FDIA), and axial (gravity) loading (AXL) on the lateral response of strong wood-frame shear walls (SWs) in multistory light frame timber buildings (LFTBs). Experimental tests assessed the lateral cyclic response of T-shaped SW assemblies with and without diaphragms and gravity load. Tests showed that the TSW effect enhances the lateral stiffness and strength but reduces the deformation capacity. The FDIA and AXL effects further influence the stiffness and strength and compensate in part for the reduction of the deformation capacity due to the TSW effect. Diaphragms also made the T-shaped SW response more symmetrical and improved the evolution of secant stiffness, cumulative dissipated energy, and equivalent viscous damping as the lateral drift increases. Numerical analyses of a theoretical building model with T-shaped SWs showed significant reductions in lateral drift and uplift compared to those of Planar SWs alone, highlighting the importance of considering system effects in the seismic design of LFTBs.
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Keywords
Axial load, Non-planar, Out-of-plane diaphragm stiffness, System effects, Transverse shear walls