| Title: | Numerical analysis of in-plane stiffness of light-timber-framed wall elements with various sheathing materials |
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| Authors: | ID Vilotijević, Jelena (Author)
ID Premrov, Miroslav (Author) |
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| Files: |  buildings-16-00629-v3.pdf (2,49 MB)
MD5: 3DE4F5450B9E6131082E69261AD34940
 https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/16/3/629
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Article |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: | FGPA - Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Architecture
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| Abstract: | This paper numerically analyses numerous parameters with the most sensitive impact on the in-plane lateral behaviour of light timber-framed (LTF) wall elements. Different types of sheathing material (fibre-plaster boards, OSB) are studied according to the parametrically chosen distance between the fasteners, using three different calculation procedures: (a) a previously developed semi-analytical procedure using the Modified Gamma Method (MGM) accounts for bending, shear, and timber-to-framing connection flexibility simultaneously; (b) a previously developed FEM Spring Model as the most accurate approach; and (c) in this study, a specially developed innovative FEM 2D Hinge Model using the two-dimensional hinge layer to simulate the deformability between the sheathing boards and the timber frame, which enables significantly faster FEM analysis compared to the already developed FEM Spring Model. This, in turn, realistically allows for much faster analysis of real multi-storey timber structures. In order to only judge the influence of the sheathing material and fastener disposition, in all cases, the tensile and compressive vertical supports are considered to be stiff-supported wall elements as prescribed by the valid Eurocode 5 standard; however, it is possible to additionally include all three possible supporting flexibilities. The study places particular emphasis on the deformation of sliding fasteners between the sheathing boards and the timber frame, which arises from fastener flexibility and can significantly reduce the overall in-plane stiffness of LTF wall elements. For specially selected parametric values of fastener spacing (s = 20, 37.5, 75, and 150 mm), parametric FEM analysis using a special 2D hinge layer is additionally developed and performed to validate the previously developed semi-analytical expressions by the MGM for the in-plane wall stiffness, which seems to be the most appropriate for designing engineering implementation. All applied approaches to modelling wall elements considered the same parameters for evaluating the stiffness of an individual wall element, which represents a fundamental input parameter in the modelling of frame wall elements within the overall structure. The aim of the study is to determine the most suitable and accurate model, as the response of the entire structure to horizontal loading depends on the design of the individual wall element. Among these, it has been demonstrated that the thickness of the load-bearing timber frame and the type of resisting LTF walls (internal or external) have practically no significant effect on the in-plane stiffness of such wall elements. Consequently, the type of sheathing material (FPB or OSB) and especially the spacing between the fasteners are much more sensitive parameters, which would probably need to be given further consideration in future FEM studies. |
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| Keywords: | timber structures, light timber-framed element, in-plane stiffness, modified gamma method, numerical analysis |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Submitted for review: | 25.12.2025 |
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| Article acceptance date: | 29.01.2026 |
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| Publication date: | 02.02.2026 |
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| Publisher: | MDPI |
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| Year of publishing: | 2025 |
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| Number of pages: | 18 str. |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 16, iss. 3, [article no.] 629 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DKUM-97030  |
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| UDC: | 694:519.6 |
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| ISSN on article: | 2075-5309 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 267849219 |
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| DOI: | 10.3390/buildings16030629 |
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| Publication date in DKUM: | 12.02.2026 |
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| Views: | 134 |
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| Downloads: | 9 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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| Categories: | Misc.
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