Composite Timber Panel Optimization for a New-type Cold-Formed Steel Shear Wall

This paper illustrates a research on the behavior of the composite timber panels used in a new-type cold-formed steel shear wall, when subjected to monotonic and reversed cyclic in-plane loading. The framing members of this new-type cold-formed steel shear wall are made of cold-formed steels. The inner timber frameworks, sheathed with veneer plywood, form the composite timber panels.

In order to improve the lateral performance of the new-type cold-formed steel shear wall, two different optimized composite timber panels were proposed and tested, namely, increasing the thickness of the sheathings and the addition of steel X-bracings. The main objective of the study is to determine the quantification of the improvement in lateral performance of these two optimized composite timber panels.

Observed failure modes, structural performance parameters and the data of the strain gauges were given for each specimen, which indicates two optimized panels both have better lateral performance. But larger deformation and damage of the sheathings happened on the panels with steel X-bracings, so the panels with thick sheathings are more suitable and practical for normal use.