The Effect of Openings’ Size and Location on Selected Dynamical Properties of Typical Wood Frame Walls

Abstract

The wooden frame constructions are now popular in many developed countries of the world. Many of these locations where such buildings are constructed are exposed to seismic and other shocks which are generated by human activities. This paper discusses the effect of the size and location of openings in the wooden frame walls under dynamic loadings. Natural frequencies of such frames with and without openings have been determined. Three 14 m high walls with different widths, including 3, 6, and 12 m, have been considered. Dynamic analysis has been made using finite element method structural analysis software Dlubal RFEM 5.17. The results show that the effect of the size and location of the openings on the natural frequency is significant. Numerically speaking, the relative change of the natural frequencies of a wall without and with an opening in a specific place could be up to 30%. In addition, the change of the natural frequency for the location of the openings is more sensitive than that to the sizes. Furthermore, the appropriate sizes and locations of openings of the wooden frame walls have been suggested. The appropriate size and place were found to be small openings in the top of the walls.

New Challenges in Wood and Wood-Based Materials II

“…The frames are usually made from spruce or pine timber surrounded (mostly) by OSB casing and filled with thermal insulation material [ 32 , 33 ]. Szcepanski et al [ 34 ] tested three walls of different widths, with and without two different sizes of openings, in several locations, to monitor the change in their natural frequencies under dynamic loads. The results showed that the effect of the size and location of the openings on the natural frequency is significant (and more sensitive for the location than for the sizes).…”