Experimental research on the out-of-plane performance of traditional residential timber frame-wall with embedded metal connectors in central China

Abstract

Traditional residential brick walls in central China typically employ metal connectors to connect with embedded timber columns for out-of-plane tensioning. To analyze the influence of metal connectors on the out-of-plane mechanical behavior of brick walls, several wall specimens were fabricated. The specimens comprised one without any connectors and three with different quantities of metal connectors placed at various locations. Static tests were conducted using gasbag loading. The deformation histories, failure modes, characteristic points of the specimens were obtained, and the shear force distribution patterns were analyzed. Furthermore, the influence of metal connectors on the collaborative performance of timber frames and brick walls in terms of their out-of-plane behavior was examined. The results indicate that walls partially equipped with metal connectors show an enhanced bearing capacity of around 17.50 % and the lateral deformation capacity of 28.38 % compared to walls without connectors. Furthermore, walls fully equipped with connectors show an increased bearing capacity by 22.51 % and lateral deformation capacity by 57.17 %. In comparison to walls without connectors, those fully equipped with connectors exhibit a 7.69 % increase in the column head shear force ratio. Consequently, the distribution of shear forces on column head is notably influenced by the presence of connectors.