Light‐Frame Shear Wall Length and Opening Effects

Abstract

Standard methods of testing the racking capacity of light‐frame walls are inefficient and may give erroneous estimates of shear wall performance. This study is concerned with improving the data base for racking resistance of light frame walls with plywood and gypsum sheathings. The shear resistance of small walls sheathed with gypsum was compared to that of full‐size walls. Results of both tests indicated that racking strength was linearly proportional to wall length. Contributions of sheathing layers and panel sections appear be additive, and length of wall sections containing door and window openings may be neglected in determining racking resistance of conventional walls. One notable difference in the performance of these racking tests involved the effect of panel length on racking stiffness. Stiffness of small walls increased linearly with length while the stiffness of full‐size walls increased nonlinearly. Knowledge that gypsum wallboard can contribute to shear wall performaoee and that it is additive to the resistance of plywood sheathing should be helpful to building designers and code officials.