Influence of fasteners disposition on behaviour of timber-framed walls with single fibre–plaster sheathing boards

This paper provides an experimental analysis of timber-framed walls, coated with single fibre–plaster coating boards fastened to a timber frame. As the walls under a horizontal load actually behave like a deep composite beam [Faherty KF, Williamson TG, Wood engineering and construction handbook, McGraw-Hill Publishing Company; 1989; Premrov M, Dobrila P. Modelling of fastener flexibility in CFRP strengthened timber-framed walls using modified γ – method. Eng Struct 2007; 30(2): 368–75; Dobrila P, Premrov M. Reinforcing methods for composite timber frame-fibreboard wall panels. Eng Struct 2003; 25(11): 1369–76], a fasteners’ disposition is very important and directly influences bearing capacity as well as stiffness of a wall. The presentation, based on the measured results, ascertains that fasteners’ spacing has a remarkable influence on behaviour of the treated walls in many aspects. Additionally, for designer purpose, comparison with relative expensive strengthening solution by using CFRP diagonal strips [Premrov M, Dobrila P, Bedenik BS. Analysis of timber-framed walls coated with CFRP strips strengthened fibre-plaster boards. Int J Solids Struct 2004; 41(24): 7035–48] is made and gives some interesting indications for designing practice by multi-storey timber-framed buildings.