Strain Distribution in OSB and GWB in Wood-Frame Shear Walls

The overall goal of this study is to gain an insight into the load sharing aspect between oriented strand board OSB and gypsum wall board GWB in shear wall assembly during racking load. Sixteen standard 2,440 2,440 mm walls were tested monotonically, in total, out of which 11 Type A were sheathed on both sides OSB on one side and GWB on the other , while five walls were tested without GWB Type B . Digital image correlation DIC was used for data acquisition and analysis which is a full-field, noncontact technique for measurement of displacements and strains. The system returns full-field three-dimensional displacement and strain data measured over the visible specimen surfaces. Overall, these tests suggest that initially during loading of a wall the load is shared between OSB and GWB. However, the proportion of load sharing is not known. As GWB fails first at about 60% of ultimate load capacity of the wall, the load shifts to the OSB panel which resists it until the failure of the wall. The tests also revealed that the load path in wall Types A and B is different and so is the failure pattern. Strains were locally concentrated around the fasteners, while the strains in the field of the panel were below the detection limit of DIC system. DOI: 10.1061/ ASCE 0733-9445 2009 135:6 666 CE Database subject headings: Shear walls; Wood structures; Frames; Strain distribution.