Structural Performance and Standards for COM-PLY Partition Studs. COM-PLY Report 13

摘要

One of a series on the possibilities of producing house framing and structural panels with particleboard cores and veneer facings, this report presents suggested standards of structural performance for COM - PLY 2 x 3 studs used for non - load - bearing partitions in homes. The report also describes the results of structural tests on a limited number of studs fabricated in the Forestry Sciences Laboratory at Athens, Ga. Details for testing structural performance are given, including a discussion of test apparatus and test specimen criteria, augmented by a discussion of computing adjusted strength and stiffness. In the Athens laboratory test, two groups of COM - PLY 2 x 3 partition studs were made. On one group of 10 studs, 1 / 8 - inch - thick veneers were used for facings; on the other group of 10 studs, 1 / 6 - inch - thick veneers were used. All studs were 1 1 / 2 inches thick, 2 1 / 2 inches wide, and 96 inches long. Double layers of southern pine vener were laminated to each side of a core of particleboard. Both groups had strengths far greater than the required value of 1,139 in - lb and had adjusted deflections smaller than the maximum standard of 0.33 inch, although the adjusted deflection of the studs with 1 / 8 inch thick veneers approached this value. The results indicate that COM - PLY partitions studs made with southern pine should be made with medium - density particleboard and that the veneers should be at least 1 / 8 - inch thick. Stiffness, rather than strength, is apparently the limiting factor with 2 x 3 COM - PLY partition studs. These 2 x 3 - inch partition studs can be used as a direct substitute for conventional 2 x 3 - inch lumber studs and at the same spacing. Photographs, diagrams, and seven references are provided.