Investigation of Dynamic Increase Factors in Light-Frame Wood Stud Walls Subjected to Out-of-Plane Blast Loading

Abstract

The results of an experimental program investigating the dynamic increase factors of light-frame wood stud walls under blast loading are presented in this paper. A total of 20 walls with two different sheathing types and thicknesses were tested to failure under static and dynamic loading. The study found that the observed failure mode for both static and dynamic loading was flexure; however, a difference in the type of flexural failure was observed. Average increase factors of 1.40 and 1.18 on the resistance and stiffness, respectively, were found. A detailed literature review combined with the test results from the current project yielded a strong correlation between the increase in strain rate and the relative increase in strength and an equation relating the dynamic increase factor (DIF) on the resistance to strain rate was proposed for strain rates in the ranges of 1.67–