ASIAN JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING (BUILDING AND HOUSING) VOL. 6, NO.

3 (2005) PAGES 113-126

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BOUNDARY CONDITIONS OF WOODEN SHEAR WALLS IN THE LIGHT PLATFORM SYSTEM
Anderson Silva and Francisco A. R. Gesualdo School of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Uberlndia, MG, Brazil

ABSTRACT
This paper presents a numerical model based on the Finite Element Method (FEM), using Ansys software with the Solid45, Plane42 and Combin39 elements to analyze wooden shear walls in light platform system. The displacements supplied by this model are compared with full-size prototypes tested according to the ASTM E72/98 standard, showing an excellent agreement. Four boundary conditions are also presented for a study of the shear walls diaphragmatic behavior. The geometric nonlinearity of the walls and the physical nonlinearity of the nail fasteners are considered in the numerical analyses.

Keywords: shear wall, vertical diaphragm, wooden frame construction 1. INTRODUCTION

In the platform system, the structural behavior of light-frame wooden constructions is statically defined by the path of the vertical and horizontal loads through the elements of the floors and walls down to the level of the foundation. Dead and live loads are transmitted to the foundation by joists and studs, while wind and seismic loads are transmitted by bracing elements called diaphragms. The floor and ceiling structures form the horizontal diaphragms, while the wall structures form the vertical diaphragms, which are also called shear walls. Conceptually, Veloso [1] defines diaphragms as plain structural elements responsible for resisting horizontal loads, with the shear in their plane serving as the main bracing mechanism. Shear walls consist of solid pieces of small cross-sections (studs and plates), sheathing panels (Plywood or Oriented Strand Board - OSB) and metal fasteners (nails), as shown in Figure 1a. Briefly, they can be seen as cantilevered I beams loaded by forces from the horizontal diaphragm. Thus, the chords correspond to the flanges of the profile, resisting the tensile and compressive stresses produced by bending, while the sheathing panels correspond to the web, resisting the tangential shear stress, as depicted in Figure 1b and

E-mail address of the corresponding author: gesualdo@ufu.br

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Equation 1 (Dias [2] and Santos [3]).

Plate Panel Tension chord Stud Nails Plate T M Fv v (Loads)

M H L v C

(a) Elements of composition

(b) Structural behavior

Figure 1. Shear wall or vertical diaphragm

T =C = M Fv H v L H = = = vH L L L

Compression chord (Reaction)

(1) L = length of the wall H = height of the wall

T = tension reaction C = compression reaction

M = overturning moment v = shear per unit length

The parameters employed in the study of shear walls involve the wooden frame (studs and plates), sheathing panels, nail fasteners, anchoring elements and displacements, all of which are essential for determining the walls stiffness and ultimate strength. In the design of these constructions, the limitations established by the standards are associated with the structures maximum nonelastic response produced by horizontal loads and/or the possibility of damaged finishing materials. Thus, the translation, rotation and deformation must be considered in the buildings structural performance, as illustrated in Figure 2.

(a) Initial position

(b) Translation

(c) Rotation

(d) Deformation

Figure 2. Displacements of the building to the horizontal loads

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Deformation-related displacements (see Figure 2d) derive from three factors: bending, shear and nail slip of the panel-frame fasteners (Pollock et al. [4]), as shown in Figure 3.

(a) Undeformed

(b) Bending

(c) Shear

(d) Nail slip

Figure 3. Deformation-related displacements

The study of these displacements involves the analysis of two structural behaviors. The first, called Change of Position, is characterized by movement of the walls rigid body, which associates the deformations of translation and rotation of the building (see Figure 2b, 2c) with deformations of the anchoring elements, as illustrated in Figure 4a. The second, called Change of Form, is characterized by deformation of the wall itself, which associates the deformations in the materials (see Figure 3b, 3c) with deformations of the nail fasteners (see Figure 3d), as illustrated in Figure 4b (Gupta and Kuo [5]).

V H

V = vertical displacement, H = horizontal displacement

, e = angular deformation of the nail fasteners

(a) Change of position: translation and rotation

(b) Change of form: deformation

Figure 4. Displacements of the shear wall

Therefore, for a Global Analysis (see Figure 5), the several variables involved in Change of Position and Change of Form impose a high level of sophistication in full-scale prototypes. Thus, computational numerical models are important tools for analyzing shear walls.

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st V H sh

st = deformation of the frame connection, sh = deformation of the nail fasteners

Figure 5. Global analysis: change of position and form

2. EXPERIMENTAL DATA
The experimental test consists of applying a horizontal force (Fv) on top of the shear wall, which produces lateral displacements (u) on the average plane of the wall. The American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM E72 [6] standard regulates the mechanical test for the analysis of the Change of form, when translation and rotation are restricted, respectively, by supports (stop) and hold-down rods placed at the ends of the prototype, as shown in Figure 6.
Force (Fv) Plates and rollers Load distribution beam

Hold-down rods Shear wall

Stop Bolts

Figure 6. Schematic diagram showing method of loading shear walls

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Veloso [1] adopted the ASTM E72 [6] standard procedure to test full-scale 2.42.4 m (88 feet) shear walls, studs and plates of Jatob wood with a 3590 mm cross-section, 12.5 mm thick plywood sheathing panels and 2.647 mm common nails. The prototypes were divided into groups A and B. The nails in Group A, comprising three units, were spaced 75 mm apart along the edges of the panels. The nails in Group B, comprising four units, were spaced at 150 mm intervals. In both groups, the nails were spaced 300 mm apart on the interior studs. The diagrams of the relationship between horizontal force (Fv) and lateral displacement (u) at the top of the shear wall in Group A (75mm) and Group B (150mm), corrected as a function of minor deformations of the hold-down rods, are shown in Figure 7.

50 Horizontal force: Fv [kN] Horizontal force: Fv [kN] 40 30 20 10 0 0 10 20 30 40 Lateral displacement: u [mm] 50 Prototype 1 Prototype 2 Prototype 3

50 40 30 20 10 0 0 10 20 30 40 Lateral displacement: u [mm] 50

Prototype 1 Prototype 2 Prototype 3 Prototype 4

(a) Group A (nails spaced 75 mm apart)

(b) Group B (nails spaced 150 mm apart)

Figure 7. Relationship between horizontal force (Fv) and lateral displacement (u). Source of data: Veloso [1]

3. NUMERICAL MODEL
The numerical model developed based on the Finite Element Method takes as reference the tests carried out by Veloso [1] according to the ASTM E72 [6] standard. The shear wall prototypes were analyzed three-dimensionally with Ansys [7] software, using Solid45, Plane42 and Combin39 elements, as shown in Figure 9. The studs and plates were represented by Solid45 solid elements, as depicted in Figure 8a. The panels were represented by Plane42 plain elements, as depicted in Figure 8b. Lastly, the nail fasteners were represented by Combin39 spring elements in the orthogonal

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directions of the wall plane (X and Y), as depicted in Figure 8c.

(a) Frame: three-dimensional linear Solid45 element with 8 nodes, 3 degrees of freedom and translation in X, Y and Z

(b) Panels: bi-dimensional linear Plane42 element with 4 nodes, 2 degrees of freedom and translation in X and Y
Frame Quadro

Panel Painel

(c) Nails: unidirectional nonlinear Combin39 element with 2 nodes, one degree of freedom and translation in X or Y Figure 8. Mesh of the numerical model: dimension (mm)

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(b) Detail of top right

(a) General view

(c) Detail of top center

Figure 9. Numerical model of shear wall

The connections between studs and plates (see Figure 10a) are considered hinges. Therefore, in the numerical model developed, only the nodes located in the axis of the studs were grouped with plates nodes. However, an improved model must eliminate overlapping of the volumes (see Figure 10b) and consider the contact between the solid elements.
Stud Panel Nails 3.575 mm ( 30) Front view Right view

(a) Detail of application of the nails

(b) Overlapping of the elements

Figure 10. Connection between the stud and plate

The nonlinear behavior of the nail fasteners between the 12.5 mm plywood panel and the wooden Jatob frame is represented by curve CR (see Figure 11). The points that were effectively used to describe the Combin 39 elements are presented in Table 1. Table 2 lists the elastic properties of the Jatob wood, the plywood panel and the hold-

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down rods. Loads were applied in successive 1 kN increments (steps) on the superficial nodes of the top plate, and the computational analysis took into account the walls geometric nonlinearity (nlgeom).
2,00 Force applied in the nail: Fp [kN]

1,50

1,53

1,00 Curve CR

8,57

0,50

Tests of Veloso (2003)

0,00 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Displacement of nail: dp [mm] 9 10

Figure 11. CR curve of the connection between the 12,5 mm plywood panel and the wooden Jatob frame fastened with 2,6 47 mm nails Table 1. Points of the CR curve indicating the Combin39 elements nonlinear behavior
Point 1 2 3 4 5 Fp [kN] 0.000 0.265 0.437 0.557 0.647 dp [mm] 0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 Point 6 7 8 9 10 Fp [kN] 0.716 0.839 0.920 0.980 1.027 dp [mm] 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 Point 11 12 13 14 15 Fp [kN] 1.053 1.076 1.098 1.200 1.280 dp [mm] 1.67 1.83 2.00 3.00 4.00 Point 16 17 18 19 20 Fp [kN] 1.355 1.428 1.524 1.525 dp [mm] 5.00 6.00 8.57 10.00 -

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Table 2. Elastic properties of the materials

Property E1 E2 E3 G12 G13 G23 12 13 23 Unit [kN/cm2] [kN/cm2] [kN/cm2] [kN/cm2] [kN/cm2] [kN/cm2] [adm.] [adm.] [adm.] Plywood panel 913.4* 734.9* 76.5* 0.113* Jatob wood 2221.0* 110.0 110.0 100.0 100.0 200.0 Hold-down rods 21000 21000 21000 9550 9550 9550 -

* Source of data: Veloso [1].

4. BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
The boundary conditions were analyzed under four distinct situations. The first, Type I, reproduced the ASTM E72 [6] test (see Figure 6). For this case, the displacement in X was restricted to the position of the stop and bolts. The displacement in Y was restricted with hold-down rods, which were represented by unidirectional Link8 elements. In addition, the portions of the bottom plate compressed by overturning of the panels were restricted in Y, analogous to the contact between the frame and the foundation. Lastly, the displacement in Z was restricted at the shear walls bottom and top plates, as depicted in Figures 12a and 13a. Veloso [1] used hold-down rods with a 19 mm diameter for Group A, and 10 mm hold-down rods for Group B, all initially tensioned at 90 N. The second, Type II, eliminated any movement of the walls rigid body (Change of position). For this case, the displacement in Y was restricted to the tension chord, although the connection of the frame remained hinged, as indicated in Figures 12b and 13b. The restrictions of the Type I condition were repeated in directions X and Z. The third, Type III, replaced the load acting on the hold-down rods of the Type I condition by tensile reaction (T) of the binary shown in Figure 1b, while repeating the other restrictions in X, Y and Z, as depicted in Figures 12c and 13c.

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Figure 12. Boundary conditions

The fourth condition, Type IV, eliminated the deformations by bending (see Figure 3b), and restricted the displacements in X, Y and Z of the plates, as indicated in Figure 12d. Thus, only the pure shear existing in the walls plane was analyzed.

(a) Type I top view left

(b) Type II bottom view left Figure 13. Details of the boundary conditions

(c) Type III top view left

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5. NUMERICAL RESULTS
The diagrams of the relationship between horizontal load (Fv) and lateral displacement (u) at the top of the wall in Group A and Group B are shown in Figures 14 through 17.

70 60 Horizontal force: Fv [kN] 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Lateral displacement: u [mm] 80 90 100 Tests of Veloso (2003) Rupture (test): Fv,u=58,70 kN BC Type I: BC Type II: Fv,u=59,00 kN Fv,u=61,43 kN

Figure 14. Relationship between horizontal force (Fv) and lateral displacement (u) for Group A (75 mm)
35 30 Horizontal force: Fv [kN] 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Lateral displacement: u [mm] 80 90 100 Tests of Veloso (2003) Rupture (test): Fv,u=27,93 kN BC Type I: BC Type II: Fv,u=30,00 kN Fv,u=31,00 kN

Figure 15. Relationship between horizontal force (Fv) and lateral displacement (u) for Group B (150 mm)

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Figures 14 and 15 reveal an excellent agreement between experimental and numerical displacements. Nevertheless, important aspects of the behavior of the numerical model and the Type I (TI) and Type II (TII) Boundary Conditions (BC) are analyzed below. In the elastic phase in Groups A and B, the numerical displacements in BC-TI and BCTII were found to be very similar. However, as expected, the shear wall of BC-TII displayed greater stiffness, because the chords displacement in Y was restricted, thus excluding the displacements deriving from Change of position. In the plastic phase, mainly in Group B, BC-TI exhibited less stiffness than the tests and BC-TII, resulting in larger displacements. This lesser stiffness was attributed to the smaller diameter ( 10 mm) of the hold-down rods, which, under high loads, leads to overturning (rotation) of the wall due to displacements. In the rupture phase in Group A, BC-TI showed an acceptable approximation to the value of the ultimate strength of the shear walls (Fv,u). However, in Group B, the difference between these results is explained only by the rupture of Prototype 4 (see Figure 7b). Based on Velosos data [1], this prototype was affected by a change in the panels moisture content, which may explain its unexpected behavior.

70 60 Horizontal force: Fv [kN] 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Lateral displacement: u [mm] 80 90 100 Boundary Conditions Type I : Fv,u=59,00 kN Type II : Fv,u=61,43 kN Type III: Fv,u=59,00 kN Type IV: Fv,u=64,00 kN

Figure 16. Relationship between horizontal force (Fv) and lateral displacement (u) for Group A (75 mm)

Figures 16 and 17 indicate the gradual increase in stiffness from BC-TI to BC-TIII, from BC-TIII to BC-TII and from BC-TII to BC-TIV. However, important aspects of the Type III (TIII) and Type IV (TIV) Boundary Conditions (BC) are analyzed below. In the elastic phase in Groups A and B, the displacements of BC-TII and BC-TIII showed a good similarity. This demonstrates that the tensile stresses induced in the chords have the same values as the binary reaction (T) (see Equation 1). Therefore, numerically, it was

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observed that the shear wall support reactions can be represented by one binary at the edges of the wall and a uniform shear in the foundation.

35 30 Horizontal force: Fv [kN] 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Lateral displacement: u [mm] 80 90 100 Boundary Conditions Type I : Fv,u=30,00 kN Type II : Fv,u=31,00 kN Type III: Fv,u=30,00 kN Type IV: Fv,u=33,00 kN

Figure 17. Relationship between horizontal force (Fv) and lateral displacement (u) for Group B (150 mm)

However, in the plastic phase of BC-TIII, the walls larger displacements interfere at the point where the vertical load (Ft) is applied, leading to a lack of stiffness in this boundary condition in relation to BC-TII and a rupture behavior such as that of BC-TI. BC-TIV in both Group A and B exhibited the most marked shear wall stiffness due to the elimination of bending displacements (see Figure 3b). Hence, for an analysis of the walls under pure shear, this boundary condition can be admitted as a limiting parameter comparable to the favorable effect of the vertical loads (dead and live loads), which also restrict wall rotation and bending. However, in the rupture phase of the BC-TIV, the displacements were corrected after most of the nails collapsed because of the frames grouped connection (stud-plate), whose purpose was to restrict major wall displacements (gray hatched line in Figures 16 and 17).

6. CONCLUSIONS
The numerical model developed here, which is based on the Finite Element Method, presented displacements compatible with those of the prototypes tested by Veloso [1], hence representing an efficient tool for the analysis of shear walls. Our study confirms that a well elaborated model can ensure excellent quality results and be a powerful instrument in electronic laboratories, since many experimental tests are limited by the high costs,

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lengthiness and technical and physical difficulties that are involved. The hold-down rods used in Velosos tests [1], according to the ASTM E72 [6] standard and the Type I Boundary Condition reported on here, did not completely restrict overturning of the prototypes when high loads were applied. This interfered in the analysis of the plastic phase and the determination of the shear walls ultimate strength. Though minor in comparison with the Type II Boundary Condition, the numerical difference between the applied loads (Fv) and the corresponding displacements was significant, mainly in view of the possible damage the finishing materials might undergo. In determining the maximum shear capacity of shear walls, the displacements must be eliminated from the walls rigid body movement (change of position) and from bending deformation under a boundary condition such as the Type IV described here. In future studies, this condition can be assumed to be a limiting parameter comparable to the favorable effect of vertical loads (dead and live loads) that also restrict wall rotation and bending.

Acknowledgements: The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Federal University of Uberlndias (UFU), School of Civil Engineering (FECIV) and of CAPES (Brazil), without which this research work could not have been accomplished. REFERENCES
1. 2. 3. Veloso, L.A.C.M. Paredes diafragma de madeira. Ph.D. thesis, University of So Paulo, So Paulo, Brazil, 2003. Dias, G.L. Estudo das paredes-diafragma para sistemas leves em madeira com aberturas de portas e janelas, Examination of qualification (Ph.D.), Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianpolis, Brazil, 2002. Santos, A.C. Anlise numrica experimental de diafragmas horizontais de edificaes com estruturas leves de madeira: lightweight wood-frame construction, Examination of qualification (Ph.D.), Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianpolis, Brazil, 2002. Pollock, D. et al., Wood-frame shear walls. Notes, Washington State University, Washington, United States. Available: <http://timber.ce.wsu.edu/Supplements/Shear Wall/default.htm>. Access: 30 dec. 2003. Gupta, A.K., and Kuo, G.P. Wood-framed shear walls with uplifting. Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, vol. 113, n. 2, 1987. pp. 241-259. American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM E72, Standard test methods of conducting strength tests of panels for building construction. 1998. Ansys Users guide. Version 8.0, 2003.

4. 5.
6. 7.