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Madison, WI 53726-2398
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Requested Product

Title: Design and Understanding of Force Transfer around Openings

Source: FPL RIP-4719-005

Author(s): Yeh,B.J.; Wacker, Jim; Lam, Frank

Publication Year: 2009  View PDF »

Related Publications: view

Category: Research In Progress

Abstract: Shear walls and diaphragms are the primary lateral-load-resisting elements in wood-frame construction. Such buildings have performed relatively well in earthquakes and hurricanes from the life safety perspective. However, property losses from natural disaster can be high. For example, in the January 17, 1994, Northridge earthquake in the Los Angeles metropolitan region, property losses were attributed predominately to damages in wood-frame housing, accounting for over half of the $40 billion property damage and approximately 48,000 uninhabitable buildings. Better understanding and improvement of these lateral-load-resistive systems are needed to further enhance wood-frame construction as a competitive solution in wide applications, including residential buildings and engineered mid-rise construction.

Keywords: force transfer; shear walls; design methods; disaster performance; wood-frame construction; force behavior; force transfer around openings

File size: 290 kb(s)

Date posted: 10/27/2009
Current FPL Scientist associated with this product
Wacker, James P.
Research General Engineer
  

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