PSI - Issue 73

Pavel Dobeš et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 73 (2025) 1–8

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Pavel Dobeš/ Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2025) 000–000

Fig. 2. Wall panel with vertically oriented OSB boards during experimental testing (Lokaj et al. 2023).

The tested panels were equipped with sixteen linear variable differential transformers (LVDT) for measuring displacements in selected areas of the wall panels and auxiliary structures (see Fig. 3). The individual LVDTs were typically arranged in pairs (measurement of horizontal and vertical deformations) at three locations on the bottom plate and three locations on the top plate (at the beginning, at the end and in the middle of the panel length). Three other LVDTs measured the vertical deformation of the bottom plate, the LVL plank and the reinforced concrete beam near the tie-down anchor. The last LVDT measured the horizontal displacement of the wall panel in the area of load application. The horizontal load was applied at the top corner of the wall panel, at the level of the top horizontal plate (see Fig. 3). The load was generated by the piston stroke of an Enerpac hydraulic cylinder with a capacity of 300 kN. A spreader steel plate was inserted between the piston and the contact surface of the loaded wall panel. The loading procedure followed the standard for determining the racking strength and stiffness of timber frame wall panels EN 594, with minor modifications depending on the specific geometry and test arrangement of the tested wall panels. The monotonic loading rate was chosen with a constant increase of force-controlled loading (piston pressure), so that 90% of the maximum load was reached within (300 ± 120) seconds.

Fig. 3. Wall panel with vertically oriented OSB boards during experimental testing (Lokaj et al. 2023).