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Provson of restrant aganst the rotaton of ndvdual tmber frame walls CD3.1 Introducton There are two ways to ensure that a timber frame building can resist the overturning moments applied to it by wind forces. The upper bound approach in Section 10.5.2 of the Manual checks the overturning resistance of the building as a whole, assuming that it acts as a rigid box, and where necessary the building is fastened to the foundation along the base of the windward wall. The lower bound approach in Section 10.8.1.5 checks the overturning resistance of the individual walls, and ensures their stability by requiring tie-downs, where necessary, at the end of each individual racking wall. If the continuity of floor and ceiling diaphragms across openings can make the walls act as if they were continuous across the building to the hinge line, and if all the connections between the vertical and horizontal diaphragms are strong enough to mobilise the entire weight of the building in overturning, then the building will indeed act as a rigid box and the two approaches will give the same result. EC0, however, states that the stability of both the whole building and the individual elements of it should be demonstrated. In particular, the design method for timber frame walls implies that individual walls should be restrained against the overturning forces acting on them. This document therefore shows how the rotational stability of individual racking walls can be ensured. As stated in Section 10.8.1.5 of the Manual, a properly constructed timber frame wall can be restrained against rotation

by means of a vertical restraint force applied to its windward end, by an equivalent vertical load applied to the top of the wall by the structure above it, by the connection of its bottom rail to the foundation or wall beneath it, or by a combination of these. Any of the following may be utilised. Connection of an end wall to an adjacent return wall. The weight of a limited length of return wall and any vertical load on it and its attachment to the foundation may all be utilised to hold down the end of a wall. Connection of an intermediate wall to a stud supporting the lintel over a doorway or window opening. Half the vertical load on the lintel and the weight of a limited length of wall panel beneath a window and its attachment to the foundation may all be utilised. Connectionofbottomrailtothefoundationorthe wallbeneathit. Straps and brackets. Vertical restraint straps or bolted brackets with adequate strength and stiffness may be specified to attach the wall to the foundation or the wall beneath. The designer is at liberty to choose which of the various elements are utilised. Where intermediate walls end at openings for doors or windows, the designer may be able to demonstrate that the continuity provided by the superstructure (floor or ceiling diaphragm) will provide the necessary residual constraint against overturning.

Corner of building attached to racking wall bfull-height

qreturn, vert, d

Resultant = Fi,f,Rd

greturn, d h

breturn Ff,Rd per unit length

Fgure CD3.1

Dimensions for return wall

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CD3.2 Connecton to a return wall panel The vertical restraint, Fi, f, Rd , which can be applied to the end of wall via its connection to a return wall, can be calculated as: Fi,f,Rd = breturn (qreturn,vert,d + greturn,d + Ff,Rd) (kN) Where breturn = min . * h (m) bfullheight

CD3.3 Connecton to a stud supportng an openng The vertical restraint, Fi,f,Rd, which can be applied to the end of wall via its connection to a stud supporting a lintel over an opening, can be calculated as: Fi,f,Rd = 0.5bopeningqi,vert,d + brestraint(gwall,d + Ff,Rd) (kN) Where bopening = width of opening (m) qi,vert,d = design value of uniformly distributed vertical load per unit length onto the wall comprising permanent loads minus the vertical component of any wind uplift (kN/m) brestraint = min . * brestraint, v for a window opening (m) brestraint, h

h bfull-height qreturn,vert,d

greturn,d Ff,Rd

= height of wall panel (m) = actual length of uninterrupted full height return wall adjacent to corner (m) = design value of uniformly distributed vertical load per unit length onto the return wall comprising permanent loads minus the vertical component of any wind uplift (kN/m) = design value of dead weight of timber frame return wall per unit length (kN/m) = effective fastener resistance per unit length = Ff, Rd, 1 + 0.5Ff, Rd,2 (kN/m) s2 s1

Ff,Rd,1, Ff,Rd,2 = lateral design capacity of one fastener in sheathings 1 and 2 respectively in the return wall (kN) s1, s2 = fastener spacings in sheathings 1 and 2 respectively in the return wall (m) Values of Ff,Rd for certain standard wall configurations can be obtained directly from the Manual, Table 10.9. If the term Ff,Rd is utilised, the fasteners attaching the bottom rail of the return panel to the substrate should be either ringed shank nails or screws, with a design withdrawal resistance equal to at least Ff,Rd kN/m (see the Manual, Table 10.8). The connections between the end of the return wall and the end of the racking wall should have a design resistance of at least Fi,f,Rd kN/m. Values for some standard fixings are given in the Manual, Tables 10.5 and 10.6.
bopening qi,vert, d Restrained stud Resultant = Fi,f,Rd gwall, d

= 0.0 for a door opening brestraint,v = height of panel to bottom of window (m) (see Figure CD3.2) brestraint,h = width of window (m) (see Figure CD3.2) gwall,d = design value of dead weight of reduced height timber frame wall per unit length (kN/m) Ff,Rd = effective fastener resistance per unit length (kN/m) If the term involving Ff,Rd is utilised for a window opening, the fasteners attaching the bottom rail of the panel to the substrate should be either ringed shank nails or screws, with a design withdrawal resistance equal to at least Ff,Rd kN/m (see the Manual, Table 10.8). The connections between the end of the return wall and the end of the racking wall should have a design resistance of at least Fi,f,Rd kN/m. Values for some standard fixings are given in the Manual, Tables 10.5 and 10.6.

bopening Wind Restrained stud qi,vert, d Wind

Resultant = Fi,f,Rd

brestraint,v

brestraint,h Ff,Rd per unit length

brestraint = 0

Fgure CD3.2

Dimensions for openings

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CD3.4 Connecton of bottom ral to the foundaton or wall beneath Some overturning resistance will inevitably be provided by the attachment of the sheathing to the bottom rail of the timber framing, and by the attachment of the bottom rail to the foundation of the building or the top of the wall beneath. In the test method on which the racking resistance expressions given in EC5 Method B were based, the bottom rail was bolted down and the nails attaching the sheathing to the bottom rail and leading stud resisted all the overturning moment. It may therefore be assumed that any overturning moment which does not exceed the calculated shear capacity of the wall can be resisted by the sheathing-to-frame connection, but the connection between the bottom rail and the substructure must be designed to provide the required resistance. Assuming that the wall acts as a rigid assembly rotating about one corner, fasteners distributed along the bottom rail can provide a design resisting moment of Rdist,d b/3 Nmm, where Rdist,d is the design resistance of the fasteners to vertical load in N/mm and b is the length of the wall (between openings or returns) in mm.

Table 10.8 in the Manual gives the design axial load capacities of some fasteners commonly used to connect the bottom rail of a wall panel to a timber wall plate. Figure CD3.3 shows some brackets used to attach wall plates to the foundation. If such brackets are relied on to restrain the rotation of individual walls they should be spaced no more than 600mm apart. CD3.5 Restrant straps and brackets Vertical restraint straps or bolted brackets with adequate strength and stiffness may be specified on the end studs at openings and corners to attach the wall to the foundation or the wall beneath (see Figures CD3.4 and CD3.5). Consideration should be given to the effects of shrinkage across intermediate floors and to the true stiffness of foundation straps as commonly installed. Tables 10.5 and 10.6 in the Manual give load capacities for nails in steel straps. Typical straps are made from steel to BS EN 10142; Fe PO2 G 1.5mm to 3mm thick and from 20mm to 75mm wide. Angle brackets may be up to about 6mm thick.

a) Fixing brackets attached to side of sole plate

b) Fixing brackets attached to side from beneath wall plate

Galvanised brackets or shoes fixed with ballistic or masonry nails into concrete slab and nailed to both sides of the sole plate. Nailing and spacing as calculated

Fgure CD3.3

Some methods of attaching a wall plate to the foundation

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a) Holding down straps showing correct installation method Stainless steel holding down strap nailed to studs and built into external brickwork cladding. Nailing and thickness as calculated. The weight of the external leaf restrains the straps Sole plate nailed to locate it prior to fixing of panels and straps Breather membrane may be behind or over straps depending upon sequence of construction

Concrete cavity fill

Bend in holding down strap set below lean mix concrete cavity fill. The strap should be stiff enough not to straighten

b) Holding down bolts and brackets Chord Bolts 6mm bent steel plate one or two sides Anchor bolt

Fgure CD3.4

Some methods of connecting the end of a wall to the foundation

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Upper shearwall Bolts Connector bracket Anchor bolt

Threaded rod Double continuous plate Connector bracket Bolts Lower shearwall

Fgure CD3.5

A suggested method for connecting the end of a wall to the floor beneath

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