Timber-framed wall panels with openings

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental analysis of timber-framed wall elements with openings, coated with single fibre-plaster boards fastened to a timber frame. The present study is a continuation of the research work realized in recent years in the reinforcement of prefabricated timber-framed wall elements without any openings. Of course, in an apartment building, many walls may have one or more openings for functional reasons, doors or windows, where a concentration of the tensile stresses around the corners appears and consequently results in an essential decrease of the wall's bearing capacity and the horizontal stiffness. We tested three groups of test samples in order to carry out an appropriate research about the influence of the area of opening on the stiffness and load-carrying capacity of the panels. The measured values for the non-opening test samples were taken from the previous research work and were compared with the measured values of the timber-framed wall elements with openings. © 2010 WIT Press.