Experimental investigation of the effect of vertical load on the capacity of wood shear walls

A series of 10 tests were conducted to determine the effect of a vertical load oil the lateral load capacity of wood frame shear walls. Static tests were performed on 2.4 m-by-2.4 m wood walls, for varying vertical load. Tests were conducted with and without hold-down anchors. Specimens were subjected to three half cycles of lateral loading, the final being to failure, The presence of vertical load on a wood frame shear wall was found to have a significant effect oil the lateral load capacity of the wall. The ultimate load capacities of walls with hold-down anchors increased by 20 and 28% for walls with it vertical load of 12 and 25 kN/m. respectively, as compared to the wall without vertical load. The vertical load was also found to have significant effect oil the lateral stiffness of the wall, Results also show that hold-down anchors do not add significantly to the strength of the wall when it vertical load equal 14) the maximum allowable is present. Finally, the results presented suggest that current code specified allowable.,hear forces;ire conservative when it vertical load is present: the wall has additional reserve capacity than is reflected by current code specified allowable shears.