Contribution of Plasterboard Finishes to Structural Performance of Multi-storey Light Wood Frame Buildings

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the contribution of plasterboard finishes made of gypsum wall board (GWB) to the structural performance of multi-storey light wood frame building (LWFB) subjected to earthquake load. Four- to six-storey buildings were analysed in this study. Computer software, SAPWood, developed to analyze LWFB subjected to actual earthquake motions was used. Two cases were considered in the analyses. The first one was a reference case where all shear walls are fabricated with wood-based sheathing panels only. The second case was buildings with walls fabricated with wood-based sheathing panels plus GWB. All shear wall hysteretic properties for both cases (with and without GWB) and inter-storey (hold-down) connections were derived from detailed numerical modeling of wall sub-systems available in the SAPWood database. The buildings were subjected to a major earthquake ground motion excitation, and the ground motion was scaled until failure in the components (walls or hold-down connections) or excessive inter-storey drift was reached. Main outputs that were used as comparison between the two cases included natural period, maximum storey shear force and drift, and individual wall responses (force and deformation). Specific attention was paid to how the applied forces are distributed between the different types of wall panels i.e. wood-based and gypsum-based.