Testing and Design of Light Gauge Steel Frame / 9 mm OSB Panel Shear Walls

摘要

Currently, design guidelines for laterally loaded (wind & seismic) light gauge steel frame / wood panel shear walls are not available in Canadian codes. It is anticipated that the construction of buildings which incorporate these shear walls as primary lateral load resisting elements will increase across Canada in coming years. This includes sites that have a relatively high seismic hazard, such as found along the West Coast of British Columbia and in the Ottawa and St. Lawrence River Valleys. An increase in the probability that a light gauge steel frame structure will be subjected to the demands of a severe earthquake will likely accompany this rise in construction activity. A research program with the main objective of developing a shear wall design method for use in Canada has been underway since 2001. The most recent phase of this research was carried out on shear walls sheathed with 9 mm OSB panels. A series of 18 walls was tested to expand upon the previous phases of the research program in which design information was developed for shear walls constructed with thicker OSB and plywood panels. The equivalent energy elastic-plastic (EEEP) analysis technique was implemented in the calculation of design parameters, which include; nominal shear strength, elastic stiffness and system ductility. The calibration of a resistance factor (φ) for use with the limit states design philosophy consistent with the 2005 National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) was carried out. It was determined that a resistance factor of 0.7 provided.