Performance of Shear Walls with Diagonal or Transverse Lumber Sheathing

Tests were carried out on shear walls with diagonal or transverse (horizontal) lumber sheathing. A total of 16 full-scale shear walls were tested to investigate the effects of hold-downs, vertical load, and width of lumber sheathing on in-plane shear capacity. Test results were also used to examine whether the shear resistance is cumulative when diagonal or transverse lumber sheathing is used on one side and gypsum wallboard panels on the other side. Monotonic and reversed cyclic displacement schedules were used as loading protocols. The load-displacement response of each test specimen was recorded, from which the initial stiffness, ultimate load and displacement, and energy dissipation were calculated. The results show that for shear walls with single diagonal lumber sheathing, the load-displacement responses under tensile and compressive loads are asymmetric if hold-downs are installed only at the bottom of the end studs. Use of steel rods in lieu of hold-down connections only at the bottom of the walls improves the ductility of walls, but still results in asymmetric behavior. With proper hold-down connections, the design values in the United States and Canadian codes are appropriate for shear walls with single diagonal lumber sheathing. For shear walls with double diagonal lumber sheathing, the in-plane shear capacities are approximately 2–3 times that of shear walls with single diagonal lumber sheathing.