Corrugated shear panel and anchor interconnect system

Abstract

A system for inhibiting unwanted movement between a building and an underlying foundation, the system including at least one shear panel assembly including corrugated portions and configured to resist bending and twisting distortion and at least one hold-down assembly configured to attach to the at least one shear panel assembly and to attach to at least one anchor member rigidly engaged with an underlying building foundation so as to resist uplift, downward movement, and lateral movement of the at least one attached shear panel assembly, the at least one hold-down assembly configured to provide a range of vertical attachment adjustment to accommodate a range of extended length of the at least one anchor member.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 897,740 filed Jun. 29, 2001 and claims thereby the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 215,290, filed on Jun. 30, 2000BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates to the construction industry and, in particular, concerns a method of providing lateral strengthening of wall structures using factory manufactured, field installed framed corrugated diaphragm shear panels. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] In light frame construction, walls are typically constructed using load bearing framing members made from wood or metal. Most often, a series of vertical studs, periodically spaced usually 16″ to 24″ on center, are secured at top and bottom with horizontal members called plates or tracks so as to form a wall frame. The resulting wall frame is capable of vertical load bearing. However, the rectangular geometry of the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020] In one aspect, the shear panel for transferring force from an upper region of a building to anchors mounted within the foundation of the building, the shear panel comprising of a plurality of frame members defining the frame of the shear panel. A diaphragm member that is attached to the frame defined by the plurality of frame members so as to transfer uplift forces from one region o the shear panel frame to another. The diaphragm is contoured so as to define a plurality of lateral displacements out of the plane of the diaphragm member to thereby provide resistance to bending of the shear panel in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm member. An anchor assembly, connected to the frame of the shear panel, so as to interconnect the shear panel to anchors mounted within the foundation of the building.

[0028] In another embodiment, the diaphragm member comprises a plurality of diaphragm sections that are individually connected to the frame member, so as to be positioned throughout the opening defined by the frame member. Wherein the plurality of diaphragm sections are coupled to the frame so as to reduce the overall length of the diaphragm member to thereby reduce the tendency of the diaphragm member to be damaged as a result of transferring force to the anchor members.

[0047] In yet another embodiment, a shear panel assembly for transferring force from an upper portion of a building to a foundation, the assembly comprising of a shear panel defining a planar area, wherein a plurality of corrugations are formed in the planar area of the shear panel. An attachment assembly for attaching the shear panel to the upper portion of the wall. An anchor assembly that interconnects the shear panel to the foundation, wherein the plurality of corrugations provide ductility in the shear panel thereby allowing limited compression and expansion of the shear panel when under shear loading to reduce buckling of the shear panel during shear loading.

[0056] In another aspect of the invention, a shear panel assembly for transferring force from an upper portion of a building to a foundation. The assembly comprising of a shear panel having a first and a second outer edges and a central portion interposed therebetween wherein the shear panel is attached to the upper portion of the wall. An anchor assembly that comprises at least one anchor bolt having a first leg and a second leg extending out of the foundation with an interconnecting section interposed therebetween. Wherein the interconnection section is embedded in the foundation to provide greater resistance to uplift forces.

[0059] In yet another aspect of the invention, a wall assembly interconnection an upper portion of a building to a foundation. The assembly comprising of a plurality of vertical studs distributed along the wall assembly. A shear panel positioned between two adjacent vertical studs at least one location. The panel has a first and second outer edges and a central portion interposed therebetween wherein the shear panel is attached to the foundation. An attachment assembly for attaching the shear panel to the upper portion of the wall assembly. The attachment assembly comprises a top track that has more than two vertical components in cross section. The additional vertical components provide the wall assembly with greater resistance to shear and uplift forces acting on the building.

Problems solved by technology

However, the rectangular geometry of the wall frame provides minimal strength when subjected to a combination of axial loading and lateral forces applied horizontally at the top or bottom of the frame wall.

Such a combined force, as occasioned by seismic or high wind events, tends to cause a racking motion between the top and bottom of the wall, and may cause damage ranging from cracks in the wall's surface finish materials to complete structural failure of the wall resulting in a building collapse.

While the conventional, two-dimensional, planar-sheet diaphragm shear panel construction does provide rigidity for the light frame walls and does provide resistance against shear forces, conventional field constructed shear panels do have some drawbacks both in terms of method-of-construction and systems performance.

The drawbacks relating to method-of-construction pertain to the inherent potential for poor quality control in any field constructed assembly, especially where the efficacy of a system is dependent upon the proper connection and attachment of a multitude of components.

The potential system performance drawback to field built sheet diaphragm shear panels relates to the issue of ductility in the wall system.

However, post earthquake and post hurricane forensic investigations and cyclic testing of sheet diaphragm shear panels has revealed that it is not uncommon for wood sheathing attached to light frame construction to tear apart at the panel edges where fastened with nails or screws.

It has also been found that wood sheet diaphragms, when rigidly secured with fasteners at panel boundaries, have a tendency to tear and shear apart in the middle of the sheet diaphragm.

Cyclic testing of both wood diaphragm shear panels and metal shear panels, including braced frame types, unitary body types, and sheet diaphragm types, has disclosed that an absence of ductility in a panel or frame generally results in a buckling failure mode on the compression side of either the vertical end edge or chord member.

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