Date of Award

5-2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Legacy Department

Civil Engineering

Committee Member

Dr. Weichiang Pang, Committee Chair

Committee Member

Dr. Bryant Nielson

Committee Member

Dr. Edward Sutt

Abstract

Changes in energy codes in recent years have resulted in stricter requirements for energy efficiency for all building types. With respect to light-frame wood construction, these changes have brought about new approaches to construction techniques, one of which uses rigid foam insulation between the framing members and exterior oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing. Placing this insulation layer between the framing members and exterior sheathing reduces the capacity of a wood shear wall to resist lateral loading. The objectives of this research were to identify the behavior of walls constructed using insulated OSB panels; examine fastener properties that influence the lateral capacity of these walls; and increase insulated OSB shear wall capacity by selecting fasteners which optimize the performance of these walls. Fastener connection tests were performed first to identify the effects of lateral loads on different fastener properties. These results were then used to model wood shear wall behavior and predict overall capacity and deflection of insulated OSB shear walls. Full-scale shear wall tests were conducted and the results were compared to the model predictions to see how well the model performed. Changing the geometry and properties of the fasteners used for constructing shear walls with insulated OSB sheathing can help to recover some of the shear capacity lost as a result of having a “gap” between the framing members and exterior sheathing of these walls. Using non-traditional fasteners (i.e. longer fasteners, larger diameter fasteners, screws) and different fastener spacing schedules can yield comparable shear design values for this type of wall system when compared to traditional light-frame wood shear walls.

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