SHEAR REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURE FOR LIGHT-FRAME CONSTRUCTION

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to shear walls, and more specifically, to shear walls in light-frame construction that resist lateral forces experienced by a building.

BACKGROUND

Shear walls are often used in the construction of buildings. The shear walls handle and transmit forces in a specified manner depending on the desired outcome. Shear walls resist lateral forces, typically wind and/or seismic forces, that are applied to a building. A lateral force applied to a shear wall can be broken up into a generally horizontal shear force component and an overturning or moment force component. As a result of the overturning force component, one end of the wall experiences an uplift or tension force while the other end of the wall experiences a downward or compressive force. Because lateral forces can come from any direction, both ends of a shear wall must be able to resist the uplift and compressive forces of the overturning force component.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate conventional light-frame shear walls 1 used in wood construction, such as multi-family homes. The shear walls 1 includes a header or top plate 2, a sill or bottom plate 3, and a plurality of studs 4 (e.g., 2×4 dimension lumber) extending there-between. To resist the overturning force component of the lateral forces, the shear walls 1 includes a plurality of large wooden columns or posts 5, such as 4×4 or 4×6 dimension lumber, arranged side-by-side at each end of the shear wall. In some cases, the wooden columns 5 arranged side-by-side along generally the entire length of the shear wall 1 (see FIG. 4). The wooden columns 5 resist the compressive force of the overturning force component. In addition, the shear walls include tie rods 7 extending the full height of the shear wall, and extending through the top plate 2 and sill 3 to tie the shear wall to a lower structural component (such as a foundation or another shear wall) and an upper structural component (such as a roof truss or another shear wall) to resist the uplift force of the overturning force component. Further, plywood sheathing 6 can be mounted on one or both sides of the shear wall to resist the shear force component of any applied lateral forces.

These shear walls 1 are costly and labor intensive to install, and are also subject to variable and unreliable performance because of installation errors. For example, the large wooden columns 5 are much costlier than typical studs due to their larger size. Further, the size, number, and arrangement of wooden posts 5 substantially fills any interior space of the shear wall 1, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, making it prohibitive to run any building utilities, such as plumbing, ductwork, electrical wiring, and the like, within the interior space of the shear wall. The difficulty in assembling is exacerbated by the having to use general carpenters at the building site to construct the shear walls.

FIG. 5 illustrates a conventional light-frame shear wall 1 used in metal construction. In general, light-frame shear walls 1 of metal and wood construction are generally the same except in metal construction the top plate, sill, and studs are made of metal (e.g., cold formed steel). Like in wood construction, the light-frame shear walls 1 of metal construction includes tie rods 7 extending the full height of the shear wall to resist the uplift force of the overturning force component.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a light-frame shear wall for resisting lateral forces comprises a frame wall, a shear reinforcement structure, and sheathing. The frame wall includes a top plate, a sill, a first stud interconnecting the top plate and the sill and a second stud interconnecting the top plate and the sill. The frame wall has a cavity bounded by the top plate, the sill, the first stud, and the second stud. The shear reinforcement structure resists lateral forces experienced by the frame wall. The shear reinforcement structure is disposed in the cavity of the frame wall. The shear reinforcement structure is attached to the first stud and the second stud. The shear reinforcement structure includes a shear member arranged to resist the lateral forces experienced by the frame wall. The sheathing is connected to the frame wall and the shear reinforcement member for supporting the shear wall against shear loads.

In another aspect, a light-frame shear wall assembly for resisting lateral forces, comprises a first wall frame including a first top plate, a first sill, and a first plurality of studs extending between the first top plate and the first sill. The first wall frame having a height. A second wall frame is disposed above the first wall frame. The second wall frame includes a second top plate, a second sill, and a second plurality of studs extending between the second top plate and the second sill. A first shear reinforcement structure resists lateral forces experienced by the first frame wall. The first shear reinforcement structure is disposed in a cavity of the first frame wall. The first shear reinforcement structure is attached to the first top plate and is attached to the first sill. A second shear reinforcement structure resists lateral forces experienced by the second frame wall. The second shear reinforcement structure is disposed in a cavity of the second frame wall. The second shear reinforcement structure is attached to the second top plate and is attached to the second sill. A tie rod connects the first and second shear reinforcement structures to one another. The tie rod extends through the first top plate and the second sill. The tie rod has a length less than the height of the first wall frame. A cinch nut attaches the tie rod to the second wall frame.

In another aspect, a method of building a shear wall assembly generally comprises selecting at a job site where the shear wall assembly is to be erected. A first shear wall constructed at a location remote from the job site includes a top plate, studs connected to the top plate at spaced apart locations, the studs extending from the top plate, and a first shear reinforcement structure disposed in a cavity bounded by adjacent ones of the studs. The first shear wall has a height. The first shear wall is positioned in an upright orientation within a perimeter of a building to be constructed. The first shear wall is secured to structure below the first shear wall. A second shear wall constructed at the location remote from the job site is selected at the job site. The second shear wall includes a top plate, a sill and studs extending between and interconnecting the top plate at the sill. The second shear wall is positioned above the first shear wall in an upright orientation within the perimeter of the building so that the second shear wall is supported by the first shear wall. The second shear wall is secured to the first shear wall. The step of securing includes inserting a tie rod upward through an opening in the top plate and through an opening in the sill of the second shear wall, and placing a cinch nut onto the tie rod and moving it toward the sill of the second shear wall thereby to connect the second shear wall to the first shear wall. The tie rod has a length less than the height of the first shear wall.

Other objects and features of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a conventional light-frame shear wall of wooden construction;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a conventional light-frame shear wall of wooden construction;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conventional light-frame shear wall of wooden construction;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a conventional light-frame shear wall of wooden construction;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a conventional light-frame shear wall of metal construction;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a portion of a light-frame shear wall assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the light-frame shear wall assembly;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section of a shear reinforcement structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8A is a vertical section of a shear reinforcement structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section of the shear reinforcement structure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top view of a shear wall with a top plate removed according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a shear wall with a top plate removed according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan illustration a connection between the shear reinforcement structure and a tie rod;

FIG. 13 is an exploded plan illustration the connection between the shear reinforcement structure and the tie rod;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration of the shear reinforcement structure;

FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 13, with a tie rod connector secured to the shear reinforcement structure;

FIG. 16 is an exploded, fragmentary section of the shear reinforcement structure being secured to the tie rod;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged plan illustration a connection between the shear reinforcement structure and the tie rod according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary elevation of a light-frame shear wall assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is an exploded illustration of an upper light-frame shear wall being secured to a lower light-frame shear wall;

FIG. 20 is a force diagram illustrating the forces resisted by a light-frame shear wall according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 21 is an illustration of a light-frame shear wall assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective of a shear reinforcement structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a light-frame shear wall assembly for resisting lateral forces experienced by a building according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is generally indicated at reference numeral 10. The light-frame shear wall assembly 10 comprises one or more light-frame shear walls 12, stacked one on top of the other. The light-frame shear walls 12 are of wooden construction. The light-frame shear walls 12 can be pre-built at a location remote from the building site and transported to the building side. There, the shear walls 12 can be stacked directly on top of one another or floor framing FF (such as joists, floor trusses, header beams, etc.) can be disposed there-between, depending on the style of light-frame construction employed. Generally, the light-frame shear wall assembly 10 transmits lateral forces, such as seismic or wind forces, experienced by the building to a foundation F (FIG. 7) of the building. A location remote from the building site can be any location outside the perimeter of the building itself where a manufacturing set up is present which is dedicated to the construction of shear walls. Laborers at the remote location preferably devote their time to the construction of shear walls and not to other tasks associated with the erection of a building at a building site.

Each light-frame shear wall 12 comprises a frame wall having a plurality of light frame members (e.g., wooden members), such as a header or top plate 14, a sill or bottom plate 16, and a plurality of studs 18. The studs 18 interconnect or extend between the top plate 14 and the sill 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the light-frame shear wall 12 is of wooden construction, although other types of construction, such as metal construction discussed below, are within the scope of the present disclosure. The top plate 14 may comprise a single or dual layer of wooden members (broadly, one or more wooden members), such as single or dual layer of 2×4 dimension lumber or a single or dual layer of 2×6 dimension lumber. The sill 14 may comprise a single layer of wooden member (broadly, one or more wooden members), such as a single layer of 2×4 dimension lumber or a single layer of 2×6 dimension lumber. Each stud 14 may comprise a wooden member, such as a single piece of 2×4 or 2×6 dimension lumber. Some studs 14 may be larger, such as a 4×4 or 4×6 piece of dimension lumber. Generally, the studs 14 will be spaced apart at set intervals, such as 12 inches-on-center, 16 inches-on-center, or 24 inches-on-center, over the length of the shear wall 12. In some embodiments, the shear wall 12 may include two or more studs 14 arranged in side-by-side engagement, such as at each end of the frame wall. Other configurations of the light frame members of the frame wall are within the scope of the present disclosure. The frame wall has one or more cavities 20. Each cavity 20 is bounded by the top plate 14, the sill 16, and two studs 18 (e.g., first and second studs) of the plurality of studs. The cavity 20 has a front side flush the front face of the frame wall and a rear side flush with the rear face of the frame wall. In some embodiments, the light-frame shear walls 12 may include plywood sheathing 22, or any other suitable structural sheathing, mounted on one or both sides of the frame wall (e.g., mounted to the top plate 14, the sill 16, and/or the studs 18) for additional resistance to any applied lateral forces.

Each light-frame shear wall 12 includes at least one shear reinforcement structure, generally indicated at reference numeral 30, for resisting the lateral forces experienced by the light-frame shear wall. In particular, the shear reinforcement structure 30 is configured to resist the overturning force component (e.g., the tension and compressive forces) of any applied lateral forces. Accordingly, the shear reinforcement structure 30 of the present disclosure replaces the full length tie rods 7 and wooden posts 5 utilized in conventional light-frame shear walls 1. Generally, each light-frame shear wall 12 will include one shear reinforcement structure 12 at each end of the light-frame shear wall. Further, if needed, a light-frame shear wall 12 can have a plurality of shear reinforcement structures 30 at each end of the light-frame shear wall (FIGS. 6, 7, and 11). In buildings, lateral forces (specifically, the overturning force component thereof) build on each other from the top down. A light-frame shear wall 12 for one story of a building must resist the lateral forces applied to its story as well as any lateral forces applied to the stories above it. Accordingly, light-frame shear walls 12 closer to the foundation F of the building will typically require more shear reinforcement structures 30 than light-frame shear walls closer to a roof (not shown) of the building. A light-frame shear wall 12 may include as many shear reinforcement structures 30 as a particular application requires in order for the light-frame shear wall to possess the necessary strength to resist the lateral forces the light-frame shear wall will experience. Generally, the addition of shear reinforcement structures 30 within a light-frame shear wall 12 results in a combined lateral force resisting capacity that is higher or greater than in a conventional light-frame shear wall 1 with full length tie rods 7 and wooden posts 5.

Referring to FIGS. 6-11, the shear reinforcement structure 30 is configured to resist the lateral forces applied to the light-frame shear wall 12 the shear reinforcement structure is mounted to. As mentioned above, as many shear reinforcement structures 30 can be utilized with the light-frame shear wall 12 as needed. The shear reinforcement structures 30 are generally identical. Accordingly, one shear reinforcement structure 30 will now be described with the understanding the description applies to all the shear reinforcement structures.

The shear reinforcement structure 30 includes a shear frame 32 (e.g., a rigid shear frame). The shear frame 32 is sized and shaped to fit within one of the cavities 20 of the light-frame shear wall 12. The shear frame 32 is sized and shaped to fit between the top plate 14 and the sill 16 of the light-frame shear wall 12, and between the two studs 18 bounding either side of the cavity 20. The shear frame 32 includes an upper portion 32A and a lower portion 32B (FIG. 8). The shear frame 32 is sized and shaped to fit between the top plate 14 and the sill 16 of the light-frame shear wall 12 such that the upper portion 32A of the shear frame is adjacent to (e.g., engages) a lower surface of the top plate and the lower portion 32B of the shear frame is adjacent to (e.g., engage) an upper surface of the sill when the shear reinforcement structure 30 is installed in the light-frame shear wall 12. The upper portion 32A includes an upper frame surface 34 arranged to engage the lower surface of the top plate 14. The lower portion 32B includes a lower frame surface 36 arranged to engage the upper surface of the sill 16. The upper and lower frame surfaces 34, 36 are opposite surfaces of the shear frame 32. The shear frame 32 includes a first side portion 32C and a second side portion 32D (FIG. 9). The shear frame 32 is sized and shaped to fit between two studs 18 bounding either side of the cavity 20 such that the first side portion 32C of the shear frame is adjacent to (e.g., engages) a side surface of one (e.g., a first) of the two studs 18 and the second portion 32C of the shear frame is adjacent to (e.g., engage) a side surface of the other (e.g., a second) of the two studs when the shear reinforcement structure 30 is installed in the light-frame shear wall 12. The first side portion 32C includes a first side frame surface 38 arranged to engage the side surface of said one stud 18. The second side portion 32C includes a second side frame surface 40 arranged to engage the side surface of said other stud 18. The first and second frame surfaces 38, 40 are opposite surfaces of the shear frame 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper and lower frame surfaces 34, 36 and first and second side frame surfaces 38, 40 form the perimeter of the shear frame 32 (broadly, shear reinforcement structure 30).

The shear frame 32 includes a shear member 42 arranged to resist the lateral forces experienced by the light-frame shear wall 12 when the shear reinforcement structure 30 is installed in the light-frame shear wall. Specifically, the shear member 42 is arranged to primarily resist the overturning force component of the lateral forces, while also contributing to an increase in the resistance to the horizontal component of the lateral forces experienced by the light-frame shear wall 12. Thus, the shear member 42 may be considered primarily as an overturning force resistive member. The shear member 42 is arranged to transfer the tension or compressive forces of the overturning force component between the upper and lower portions 32A, 32B of the shear frame 32, thereby transferring the tension or compressive forces of the overturning force component between the top plate 14 and the sill 16 of the light-frame shear wall 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the shear member 42 comprises a metal plate or panel, although other suitable shear members, such as metal tubing (e.g., hollow structural sections (HSS) steel tubing), are within the scope of the present disclosure. The metal plate is generally rectangular in shape and includes opposite upper and lower edge margins and opposite first and second side edge margins. The upper edge margin includes an upper edge, the lower edge margin includes a lower edge, the first side edge margin includes a first side edge, and the second side edge margin includes a second side edge. The metal plate is oriented generally parallel to the length of the light-frame shear wall 12 when the shear frame 32 is installed in the light-frame shear wall. The metal plate is sized, shaped and arranged such that the upper edge of the metal plate is adjacent the top plate 14 of the light-frame shear wall 12 and the lower edge of the metal plate is adjacent the sill 16 of the light-frame shear wall when the shear reinforcement structure 30 is installed in the light-frame shear wall. Likewise, the metal plate is sized, shaped and arranged such that the first side edge of the metal plate is adjacent one of the two studs 18 of the light-frame shear wall 12 and the second side edge of the metal plate is adjacent the other of the two studs of the light-frame shear wall when the shear reinforcement structure 30 is installed in the light-frame shear wall. In one embodiment, the sheathing 22 is the primary component used to transfer and resist the shear load, while the shear frame 32 resists the turn over forces created by application of a lateral load to the building. In some embodiments, the sheathing 22 is fastened (e.g., by screws) directly to the shear frame 32.

The shear frame 32 includes a plurality of shear frame members 44 extending around the perimeter of the shear frame. The shear frame members 44 include an upper frame member 44A, a lower frame member 44B, and first and second side frame members 44C and 44D. Each side frame member 44C, 44D extends between the upper and lower frame members 44A, 44B. In the illustrated embodiment, each shear frame member 44 comprises an L-shaped bracket, although other configurations, such as metal tubing, are within the scope of the present disclosure. The shear member 40 is attached to at least two of the shear frame members 44, such as the upper and lower frame members 44A, 44B. Preferably, the shear member 40 is attached to each of the shear frame members 44, e.g., the upper frame member 44A, the lower frame member 44B, and the first and second side frame members 44C and 44D. The upper frame member 44A is attached to and extends along the upper edge margin of the metal plate. The lower frame member 44B is attached to and extends along the lower edge margin of the metal plate. The first side frame member 44C is attached to and extends along the first side edge margin of the metal plate. The second side frame member 44D is attached to and extends along the second side edge margin of the metal plate. Such a configuration helps rigidify the metal plate (broadly, the shear frame 32) to better resist the overturning force component (specifically, the compression force). In the illustrated embodiment, the upper frame member 44A forms the upper frame surface 34, the lower frame member 44B forms the lower frame surface 36, the first side frame member 44C forms the first side frame surface 38, and the second side frame member 44D forms the second side frame surface 40. In one embodiment, the shear frame members 44 may include one or more openings arranged to receive fasteners (e.g., screws) for fastening the shear frame members to the frame members (e.g., top plate 14, sill 16, studs 18) of the light frame shear wall 12.

The shear frame 32 has a shear frame cavity 48. In the illustrated embodiment, the shear member upper and lower portions 32A, 32B, side portions 32C, 32D, upper and lower frame members 44A, 44B and the side frame members 44C, 44D bound the shear frame cavity 48. When installed (see FIGS. 6 and 7), the cavity 48 of the shear reinforcement structure 30 is coextensive with the cavity 20 the light-frame shear wall 12. The cavity 48 allows building utilities (not shown), such as plumbing (e.g., pipes, fittings, etc.), ductwork (e.g., ducts, intake vents, exhaust vents), electrical (electrical conduits, electrical wiring, electrical boxes), and the like, to be placed therein, thereby allowing these building utilities to run within the interior space of the light-frame shear wall 12. For example, the cavity 48 permits piping and electrical conduits to be placed therein and extend there through. If needed, utility openings can be pre-formed or cut in the field in the frame members 44 to permit the building utilities to extend into and/or out of cavity 48. Further, other building utility components can be positioned in the cavity 48. For example, an electrical box, such as for a wall outlet, can be positioned in the cavity 48. Conventional light-frame shear walls 1 do not have these capabilities because of the amount of space the wooden posts 5 take up (see FIGS. 1-4).

In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the shear frame 32 is integrally formed as one-piece (see FIGS. 8 and 9). For example, the shear frame 32 may be made of sheet metal, such as 10 or 12-gauge sheet metal. In one embodiment, the shear frame 32 is formed from a single piece of sheet metal by stamping and forming. A sheet metal blank can be cut from the piece of sheet metal and then bent into shape. In this embodiment, interfaces between the shear frame members 44 may be secured together such as by welding or any other suitable method. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, the shear frame 32 may be formed from multiple pieces joined together, such as by welding or with fasteners (e.g., bolts). For example, such multiple pieces can include a plate forming the shear member 42 with four C-channels attached to the edge margins (e.g., top, bottom, left, right) of the plate to form the shear frame members 44A-D. Other ways of forming the shear frame are within the scope of the present disclosure.

The shear reinforcement structure 30 may also include upper and lower bearing plates 46 (FIG. 9) attached to the respective upper and lower shear frame members 44A, 44B for distributing the forces from tie rods (described below).

The shear reinforcement structure 30 can be sized to fit generally any arrangement of the light-frame shear wall 12. For example, the shear reinforcement structure 30 can have generally any height to fit between the top plate 14 and the sill 16 of a light-frame shear wall 12 of any height. The shear reinforcement structure 30 can also come in a variety of different widths to match the spacing of the studs 18. In one embodiment, the spacing of the studs 18 in the light-frame shear wall 12 may change to accommodate the shear reinforcement structure. For example, the studs 18 engaging the shear reinforcement structure 30 can be spaced based on the shear reinforcement structure with the remaining studs spaced at the typical regular intervals (see FIG. 7). The shear reinforcement structure 30 can have generally any depth to match the depth of the studs 18 in the light-frame shear wall 12. The first and second side shear frame members 44C, 44D are each attached to a respective adjacent stud 18. In one embodiment, there are multiple (e.g., 12 or 2 per foot) connections between the respective side shear frame member (44C, 44D) and the stud 18. In one embodiment, the connections of each of the shear frame members are spaced equally or near equally over about the full height of the shear reinforcement structure. The size and spacing of the connections of each of the shear frame member (44C, 44D) and the stud 18 are selected to be sufficient to transfer the full overturning force that can be expected from the capacity of the light-frame shear wall 12 to resist lateral shear.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, and 12-16, the shear reinforcement structure 30 is configured to be used with tie rods 50 of the light-frame shear wall assembly 10 for tying adjacent light-frame shear walls 12 in the building to one another to resist uplift forces or the light-frame shear wall on the foundation F to the foundation. The tie rods 50 are also used to attach the shear reinforcement structure 30 to the top plate 14 and the sill 16 of the light-frame shear walls 12. One tie rod 50 is used to attach the shear reinforcement structure 30 through the top plate 14 to the shear reinforcement structure 30 above. Another tie rod 50 is used to attach the shear reinforcement structure 30 through the sill 16 to the foundation F or to a shear reinforcement structure below. Accordingly, the light-frame shear wall assembly 10 of the present disclosure does not require the single continuous tie rod 7 extending the full height of the wall, as required by conventional light-frame shear walls 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). As a result, more space in the interior of light-frame shear walls 12 is freed up, such as for plumbing, ductwork, electrical, and the like. The shear frame 32 includes first or upper attachment structure 52 for attaching the upper portion 32A (e.g., the upper frame member 44A) to the top plate 14. The shear frame 32 also includes second or lower attachment structure 54 for attaching the lower portion 32B (e.g., the lower frame member 44B) to the sill 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second attachment structure 52, 54 each include an opening 56 (e.g., a tie rod opening). Each opening 56 is sized, shaped, and arranged to permit a tie rod 50 to extend through the opening to attach the shear frame 32 to the top plate 14 or the sill 16. The opening 56 in the upper portion 32A extends through the upper frame member 44A and the bearing plate 46. The opening 56 in the lower portion 32B extends through the lower frame member 44B and the bearing plate 46. In one embodiment, the opening 56 of the second attachment structure 54 is tapered (FIG. 16) to facilitate insertion of the tie rod 50 through the opening. In one embodiment (not shown), the corresponding tie rod openings in the top plate 14 and/or sill 16 are also tapered to facilitate insertion of the tie rods 50. Tapered tie rod openings of the sill 16 are illustrated in FIG. 19.

In the illustrated embodiment, when tying adjacent light-frame shear walls 12 together, one end of the tie rod 50 is secured with a nut 58 (with or without a washer) and the other end of the tie rod is secured with a tie rod connector 60. When tying the light-frame shear wall 12 to the foundation F, one end of the tie rod 50 is embedded in the foundation and the other end of the tie rod is secured with the tie rod connector 60. In the illustrated embodiment, the tie rod connector 60 comprises a cinch nut, such as the MiTek Z4 CNX Cinch Nut available from MiTek Industries, Inc. of Chesterfield, Missouri, although other suitable tie rod connectors, such as a standard nut (e.g., nut 58), are within the scope of the present disclosure. The cinch nut may be desirable as the tie rod connector 60 because the cinch nut will take up any slack in the tie rod 50 as the wooden members of the light-frame shear wall 12 shrink over time. In the illustrated embodiment, the tie rod connector 60 is configured to attach the tie rod 50 to the lower portion 32B of the shear frame 32.

The second attachment structure 54 includes a holder 62 (e.g., a cinch nut holder) sized and shaped to receive and hold the tie rod connector 60 to secure the tie rod connector, and the tie rod 50 coupled thereto, to the lower portion 32B of the shear frame 32 (broadly, the shear reinforcement structure 30). The holder 62 includes two clips 64, each with a resiliently deflectable locking tab 66 that are attached to the plates 46 in a suitable manner, such as by welding or adhering. The clips 64 overlie the bearing plate 46 and form a channel sized and shaped to receive flanges 68 of the tie rod connector 60. The clips 64 are arranged such that the flanges 68 of the tie rod connector 60 can be inserted into the channels by pivoting or rotating the tie rod connector about the tie rod 50. This allows the tie rod connector 60 to be easily connected to the shear reinforcement structure 30. When the flanges 68 of the tie rod connector 60 are disposed in their respective channels, the locking tabs 66 engage the flanges to secure the tie rod connector 60. The locking tabs 66 can engage the flanges 68 of the tie rod connector 60 over a range of positions to hold the connector is place. This allows for some variance in the location of the hole 56 in relation to the locations of the clips 64. Other ways of securing the tie rod connector to the shear reinforcement structure are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in one embodiment, the tie rod connector 60 can be secured with one or more fasteners 70 (e.g., bolts, screws) to the bearing plate 46 (broadly, the shear frame 32), as shown in FIG. 17. Other configurations are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in one embodiment, the first attachment structure 52 also includes a holder. In another embodiment, the first attachment structure 52 includes the holder and the second attachment structure 54 does not.

In one embodiment, more than one tie rod 50 can be attached to the respective upper and lower portions 32A, 32B of the shear reinforcement structure 30. For example, referring to FIG. 18, two tie rods 50 can be used to attach the shear reinforcement structure 30 to the adjacent shear reinforcement structure of another light-frame shear wall 12 or foundation F. Using more than one tie rod 50 increases the amount of tension force of the overturning force component the light-frame shear wall assembly 10 of the present disclosure can resist.

Referring back to FIGS. 6, 7, 10, and 11, the shear reinforcement structure 30 is installed in the light-frame shear wall 12 to form at least a portion of the light-frame shear wall assembly 10. When installed, the shear reinforcement structure 30 (specifically, the shear frame 32) is disposed within one of the cavities 20 of the light-frame shear wall 12. Preferably, the shear member 42 is disposed entirely within the cavity 20 of the light-frame shear wall 12. Even more preferably, the shear frame 32 is disposed entirely within the cavity 20 of the light-frame shear wall 12. Even more preferably, the shear reinforcement structure 30 is disposed entirely within the cavity 20 of the light-frame shear wall 12. Such a configuration permits a compact arrangement with minimal disruption to existing light-frame construction configurations, allowing the shear reinforcement structure to be used with generally any light-frame wall design.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the shear reinforcement structure 30 (e.g., shear frame 32) has a depth generally equal to or less than the depth of the cavity 20. In other words, the upper, lower, first side, and second side frame surfaces 34, 36, 38, 40 each have a depth generally equal to or less than a depth of the studs 18. The upper surface 34 of the shear frame 32 is in face-to-face engagement with the lower surface of the top plate 14 and the lower surface 36 of the shear frame is in face-to-face engagement with the upper surface of the sill 16. This spreads the force applied by the shear reinforcement structure 30 to the top plate 14 and the sill 16 (due to the resisting of the lateral forces) over a larger area to avoid crushing the wooden members of the top plate and sill. Preferably, the area of the face-to-face engagement between the shear reinforcement structure 30 and the top plate 14 and between the shear reinforcement structure and the sill 16 are each larger than the horizontal cross-sectional area of one of the studs 18. More preferably, the depth of the respective face-to-face engagements is generally equal to the depth of the top plate 14 and the sill 14 and the length of the face-to-face engagements is greater than the dimension (e.g., thickness) of the studs that is parallel to the length of the wall. More preferably, the length of the face-to-face engagements is generally equal to a distance between adjacent studs 18 (broadly, greater than 50% of the distance between adjacent studs, or greater than 75% of the distance between adjacent studs, or greater than 90% of the distance between adjacent studs), such that the face-to-face engagements extend between the adjacent studs. For the same reasons, preferably, the first side frame surface 38 of the shear frame is in face-to-face engagement with a side surface of one stud 18 and a second side frame surface 40 of the shear frame is in face-to-face engagement with a side surface of the another stud. The metal plate 40 is sized and shaped such that is generally fills the cross-sectional shape of the cavity 20. Accordingly, the upper edge of the metal plate 40 is adjacent the top plate 14 and the lower edge of the metal plate is adjacent the sill 16. Likewise, the first side edge of the metal plate 40 is adjacent one stud 18 and the second side edge of the metal plate is adjacent the other stud.

Generally, the shear reinforcement structure 30 is attached to the top plate 14 and the sill 16 of the light-frame shear wall 12. A first tie rod 50 extends through the top plate 14 and through the opening 56 of the first attachment structure 52 for attaching the shear reinforcement structure 30 to the top plate. Likewise, a second tie rod 50 extends through the sill 16 and through the opening 56 of the second attachment structure 54 for attaching the shear reinforcement structure 30 to the sill. A tie rod connector 60 secures the second tie rod 50 to the shear reinforcement structure 30. In one embodiment, the shear reinforcement structure 30 is further attached to the top plate 14 and/or the sill 16 with one or more fasteners. In one embodiment, the shear reinforcement structure 30 is attached to the top plate 14 and the sill 16 with one or more fasteners instead of the tie rods 50. In one embodiment, the shear reinforcement structure 30 is further attached to the studs 18 on either side of the cavity 22 with one or more fasteners.

Referring to FIG. 6, in one example implementation, the illustrated light-frame shear wall assembly 10 includes an upper light-frame shear wall 12 and a lower light-frame shear wall 12. The upper light-frame shear wall 12 has one (e.g., a first) shear reinforcement structure 30A installed at one end thereof. The lower light-frame shear wall 12 has two (e.g., second and third) shear reinforcement structures 30B, 30C installed at one end thereof. A stud 18 separates the two shear reinforcement structures 30B, 30C installed in the lower light-frame shear wall 12. The light-frame shear wall assembly 10 includes a first tie rod 50A interconnecting the first shear reinforcement structure 30A of the upper light-frame shear wall 12 and the second shear reinforcement structure 30B of the lower light-frame shear wall 12. The first tie rod 50A is connected with a nut 58 with the second shear reinforcement structure 30B and with a tie rod connector 60 to the first shear reinforcement structure 30A. The first tie rod 50A extends up through the tie rod opening 56 in the second shear reinforcement structure 30B, up through the top plate 14 of the lower light-frame shear wall 12, through the floor framing FF, through the sill 16 of the upper light-frame shear wall 12, and through the tie rod opening 56 in the first shear reinforcement structure 30A. The light-frame shear wall assembly 10 includes a second tie rod 50B interconnecting the second shear reinforcement structure 30A of the lower light-frame shear wall 12 with either another shear reinforcement structure 30 of a light-frame shear wall disposed there below or a foundation. The second tie rod 50B is connected with another tie rod connector 60 to the second shear reinforcement structure 30B. The second tie rod 50B extends down through the tie rod opening 56 in the second shear reinforcement structure 30B and through the sill 14 of the lower light-frame shear wall 12.

In this embodiment, the shear reinforcement structures 30A, 30B tied together by the tie rods 50A, 50B are sufficient to resist the tension force of the overturning force component in the light-frame shear wall assembly 10. However, it has been determined that one shear reinforcement structure 30 in the lower light-frame shear wall 12 is not sufficient to resist the compression force of the overturning force component in the lower light-frame shear wall. Accordingly, the third shear reinforcement structure 30C installed in the lower light-frame shear wall 12 to further resist compression force of the overturning force component. The third shear reinforcement structure 30C is secured to the lower light-frame shear wall 12 with one or more fasteners. No tie rods are used since the third shear reinforcement structure 30C does not needed to resist the tension force of the overturning force component. Although not shown, it is understood the upper and lower light-frame shear walls 12 illustrated in FIG. 6 would have the same shear reinforcement structures 30 at the walls' other ends as well. Typically, the configuration of the shear reinforcement structure 30 (including the tie rod connections) at one end of a light-frame shear wall will be generally identical (e.g., a mirror image thereof) to the configuration of the shear reinforcement structure at the other end of the light-frame shear wall. Further, the light-frame shear wall 12 for each story of a building will typically include at least one shear reinforcement structure 30 at each end of the light-frame shear wall to resist the lateral forces and transfer the tension and compression forces of the overturning force component to the other light-frame shear walls above and below.

Referring to FIG. 7, in another example implementation, the illustrated light-frame shear wall assembly 10 includes an upper light-frame shear wall 12 and a lower light-frame shear wall 12. The upper light-frame shear wall 12 has two (e.g., first and second) shear reinforcement structures 30A, 30B installed at one end thereof. The lower light-frame shear wall 12 has two (e.g., third and fourth) shear reinforcement structures 30C, 30D installed at one end thereof. A stud 18 separates the two shear reinforcement structures 30A, 30B installed in the lower light-frame shear wall 12 and another stud separates the two shear reinforcement structures 30C, 30D installed in the upper light-frame shear wall. The light-frame shear wall assembly 10 includes a first tie rod 50A interconnecting the first shear reinforcement structure 30A of the upper light-frame shear wall 12 and the third shear reinforcement structure 30C of the lower light-frame shear wall 12. The first tie rod 50A is connected with a nut 58 with the third shear reinforcement structure 30C and with a tie rod connector 60 to the first shear reinforcement structure 30A. The first tie rod 50A extends up through the tie rod opening 56 in the third shear reinforcement structure 30C, through the top plate 14 of the lower light-frame shear wall 12, through the floor framing FF, through the sill 16 of the upper light-frame shear wall 12, and up through the tie rod opening 56 in the first shear reinforcement structure 30A. The light-frame shear wall assembly 10 includes a second tie rod 50B interconnecting the third shear reinforcement structure 30C of the lower light-frame shear wall 12 with a foundation F. The second tie rod 50B is connected with another tie rod connector 60 to the third shear reinforcement structure 30C. The second tie rod 50B extends down through the tie rod opening 56 in the third shear reinforcement structure 30C and through the sill 14 of the lower light-frame shear wall 12. In this embodiment, the shear reinforcement structures 30A, 30C tied together by the tie rods 50A, 50B are sufficient to resist the tension force of the overturning force component in the light-frame shear wall assembly 10. However, it has been determined that one shear reinforcement structure 30 in the lower light-frame shear wall 12 and in the upper light-frame shear wall is not sufficient to resist the compression force of the overturning force component in the light-frame shear wall assembly 10. Accordingly, another (e.g., the second) shear reinforcement structure 30B is installed in the upper light-frame shear wall 12 and another (e.g., the fourth) shear reinforcement structure 30D is installed in the lower light-frame shear wall to further resist compression force of the overturning force component. The second and fourth shear reinforcement structures 30B, 30D are each secured to their respective light-frame shear walls 12 with one or more fasteners. No tie rods are used since the second and fourth shear reinforcement structures 30B, 30D do not need to resist the tension force of the overturning force component. Again, as described above, it is understood the upper and lower light-frame shear walls 12 illustrated in FIG. 7 would have the same shear reinforcement structures 30 at the walls' other ends as well.

As used herein, reference numeral “30” designates all shear reinforcement structures, while reference numeral “30” followed by a letter, such as “30A”, designates a specific shear reinforcement structure shown in the figures. Likewise, reference numeral “50” designates all tie rods, while reference numeral “50” followed by a letter, such as “50A”, designates a specific tie rod shown in the figures.

Referring to FIG. 19, in one method of implementation includes attaching the shear reinforcement structure 30 to the light-frame shear wall 12 prior to positioning or erecting the light-frame shear wall in the building. In this method, the frame wall of the light-frame shear wall 12 is constructed. While the frame wall is being constructed or after the frame wall is constructed, the shear reinforcement structures 30 are installed in the frame wall. The particular size of the shear reinforcement structure 30 and number of shear reinforcement structures is set according to the load requirements (e.g., calculated lateral loads) of the light-frame shear wall assembly 10. After the shear reinforcement structures 30 are installed in the frame wall, the tie rod connectors 60 are coupled to the shear reinforcement structures.

The frame wall of the light-frame shear wall 12 can now be positioned in the building. As shown in FIG. 19, the tie rods 50 which connect the light-frame shear wall 12 to the lower structural component (another light frame shear wall in this case) have already been attached to the lower structural component. The light-frame shear wall 12 is positioned over the tie rods 50 and maneuvered to align the tie rods with the openings 56 in the shear reinforcement structures 30. The light-frame shear wall 12 is then lowered until the sill 16 rests on the floor framing FF (in other embodiments, the light-frame shear wall may rest on a top plate of another light-frame shear wall). As the light-frame shear wall 12 is lowered, the tie rods 50 extend through the openings 56 in the shear reinforcement structures 30 and engage the tie rod connectors 60. In this embodiment, the tie rod connectors 60 comprise cinch nuts which permit the tie rods to move therein in one direction (e.g., upward relative to the cinch nut). Thus, the light-frame shear wall 12 is simply lowered into place over the tie rods 50. After the light-frame shear wall 12 is positioned, the tie rods 50 can be appropriately tensioned. If used, the structural sheathing 22 of the light-frame shear wall 12 can be applied to the frame wall before or after the frame wall is positioned in the building. Because the shear reinforcement structure 30 allows the light-frame shear wall 12 to be easily installed at the building site, the light-frame shear wall 12 can be built offsite and then transported to the construction site. This enables the light-frame shear wall 12 and the shear reinforcement structure 30 to be assembled in a controlled environment, such as a warehouse, reducing construction costs over conventional shear walls. This also makes it easier to install the light-frame shear wall 12 in the field. Conventional shear walls 1 do not have this capability. It is not practical to install the full length tie rods 7 in a light-frame shear wall off-site and they require much more labor to install onsite then the present system which does not require full length tie rods.

Other methods of installing the shear reinforcement structure 30 are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in one method, the shear reinforcement structure 30 is installed in the light-frame shear wall 12 after the light frame shear wall is positioned in the building. In this method, the tie rods 50 are secured to the shear reinforcement structure 30 after the shear reinforcement structure is installed in the frame wall.

FIG. 20 illustrates the internal and external forces experienced by a light-frame shear wall assembly 10 of the present disclosure. The light-frame shear wall assembly 10 includes a light-frame shear wall 12 with a shear reinforcement structure 30 installed at each end of the light-frame shear wall. The light-frame shear wall assembly 10 is subject to a lateral force F_L, such as a wind or seismic force, which has a rightward direction in FIG. 20. As a result of the lateral force F_L, the top of the light-frame shear wall 12 is subjected to a shear or sliding force F₁from an upper structural component, such as another light-frame shear wall or a roof, as a result of the upper structural component wanting to slide relative to the light-frame shear wall 12. Similarly, the bottom of the light-frame shear wall 12 is subjected to a shear or sliding force F₂as a result of the light-frame shear wall wanting to slide relative to the lower structural component (such as another light-frame shear wall or a foundation) the light-frame shear wall is anchored to. The shear reinforcement structure 30 and the structural sheathing 22 of the light-frame shear wall 12 resist the shear forces F₁and F₂. Further, the two sliding forces F₁and F₂are directed in opposite directions, generating the overturning force component. As a result of the overturning force component, the light-frame shear wall 12 wants to rotate clockwise about a point toward the right-end of the light-frame shear wall. This results in a tension force Fr experienced by the left-end of the light-frame shear wall 12 which is resisted by the shear reinforcement structure 30 at the left-end of the light-frame shear wall and a compression force Fc experienced by the right-end of the light-frame shear wall which is resisted by the shear reinforcement structure at the right-end of the light-frame shear wall. Internal moments and shear forces developed within the light-frame shear wall 12 are resisted by the combination of the shear reinforcement structure 30 and the structural sheathing 22.

The shear reinforcement structure 30 described herein is made of light gauge steel, making them appropriate for smaller wooden structures. They can be prefabricated, thereby eliminating installation errors and reducing or eliminating variability in performance. They are easily installed as they must be simply bolted into place, with no field welding required. The shear reinforcement structure 30 integrates into existing light-frame layouts and practices while taking up less space than conventional methods. This allows building utilities, such as plumbing, ductwork, electrical, and the like, to be easily placed within the interior space of the light-frame shear wall 12.

Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, another embodiment of a light-frame shear wall assembly according to the present disclosure is generally indicated by reference numeral 110. The light-frame wall assembly 110 of FIGS. 21 and 22 is generally analogous to the light-frame wall assembly 10 of FIGS. 6-20 and, thus, for case of description and comprehension, where similar, analogous, or identical parts are used, reference numerals “100” units higher are employed. Accordingly, unless clearly stated or indicated otherwise, the above descriptions regarding the light-frame shear wall assembly 10 of FIGS. 6-20 also apply to the light-frame shear wall assembly 110 of FIGS. 21 and 22.

In this embodiment, the light-frame shear wall assembly 110 includes light-frame shear walls 112 of metal construction. That is, the framing members (e.g., the top plate, the sill, and the studs) of the frame wall are metal components, such as cold-formed steel. As a result, the shear reinforcement structure 130 of the light-frame shear wall assembly 110 is able to have a narrower footprint because there is little to no concern that the shear reinforcement structure will crush the metal framing members (unlike the shear reinforcement structure 30 of FIGS. 6-20 which has to spread out the tension and compressive forces over a larger surface area of the top plate 14 and the sill 16 to avoid crushing these wooden members).

In the illustrated embodiment, the shear reinforcement structure 130 resembles a post (e.g., a rectangular post). The shear member 140 and the shear frame members 144 generally enclose the cavity 148. The shear member 140 forms a rear wall of the post. The first side frame member 144C forms a first side wall of the post. The second side frame member 144D forms a second side wall of the post. The first and second side frame members 144C, 144D cooperate to form a front wall of the post. Similar, the upper frame member 144A forms a top wall of the post and the lower frame member 144B forms as bottom wall of the post. The front wall of the post includes a lower opening 159 to access the tie rod connector 160 attached to the lower portion 132B of the shear frame 132 and an upper opening 157 to access the nut 158 attached to the upper portion 132A of the shear frame.

In this embodiment, the shear reinforcement structure 130 may still be installed in the cavity 122 of the light-frame shear wall 112. The shear reinforcement structure 130 may engage both, one, or none of the studs 118 bounding either side of the cavity 122. In one embodiment, the shear reinforcement structure 130 may take the place of the one or more studs 118, such as the one or more studs at each end of the light-frame shear wall assembly 110.

Having described the disclosure in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure defined in the appended claims.

When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the disclosure are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above products without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Other Statements of the Disclosure

The following are statements or features of invention described in the present disclosure. Some or all of the following statements may not be currently presented as claims. Nevertheless, the statements are believed to be patentable and may subsequently be presented as claims. Associated apparatuses corresponding to the statements or methods below (and vice versa) are also believed to be patentable and may subsequently be presented as claims. It is understood that the following statements may refer to and be supported by one, more than one, or all the embodiments described above.

A1. A method of building a shear wall assembly comprising:

- selecting at a job site where the shear wall assembly is to be erected, a first shear wall constructed at a location remote from the job site, the first shear wall as constructed at the remote location including a top plate, studs connected to the top plate at spaced apart locations, the studs extending from the top plate, and a first shear reinforcement structure disposed in a cavity bounded by adjacent ones of the studs, the first shear wall having a height;
- positioning the first shear wall in an upright orientation within a perimeter of a building to be constructed;
- securing the first shear wall to structure below the first shear wall;
- selecting at the job site a second shear wall constructed at the location remote from the job site, the second shear wall including a top plate, a sill and studs extending between and interconnecting the top plate at the sill;
- positioning the second shear wall above of the first shear wall in an upright orientation within the perimeter of the building so that the second shear wall is supported by the first shear wall;
- securing the second shear wall to the first shear wall, said step of securing including inserting a tie rod upward through an opening in the top plate and through an opening in the sill of the second shear wall, and placing a cinch nut onto the tie rod and moving it toward the sill of the second shear wall thereby to connect the second shear wall to the first shear wall, the tie rod having a length less than the height of the first shear wall.

A2. The method of statement A1 further comprising attaching the cinch nut to the sill of the second shear wall.

A3. The method of statement A2 wherein attaching the cinch nut to the sill comprises rotating the cinch nut on the tie rod from a first position to a second position in which flanges of the cinch nut are received under clips mounted on the sill thereby to attach the cinch nut to the sill.

A4. The method of any one of statements A1-A3 wherein the step of positioning the first shear wall comprises placing the first shear wall onto a foundation of the building so that a tie rod embedded in the foundation is received through an opening in a sill of the first shear wall and an opening in the first shear reinforcement structure, and the step of securing the first shear wall comprises placing a cinch nut onto the tie rod and toward the sill of the first shear wall.

A5. The method of any one of statements A1-A4 wherein securing the second shear wall to the first shear wall includes passing the tie rod through an opening in a second shear reinforcement structure located between adjacent studs of the second shear wall.

A6. The method of any one of statements A1-A5 wherein securing the second shear wall to the first shear wall further includes threadably connecting a nut to the tie rod on an end of the tie rod disposed in the first shear wall.

A7. The method of any one of statements A1-A6 wherein the step of securing the tie rod to the second shear wall comprises inserting the tie rod through a floor structure located between the first shear wall and the second shear wall.

A8. The method of any one of statements A1-A7 wherein the first shear wall as constructed at the remote location has sheathing mounted on the top plate and studs.

B1. A shear wall for resisting lateral forces comprising a frame wall including a top plate, a sill, a first stud interconnecting the top plate and the sill and a second stud interconnecting the top plate and the sill. The frame wall including a top, a bottom and opposite ends. A first shear reinforcing post connected to one of the opposite ends of the frame wall and a second shear reinforcing post being connected to the other of the opposite ends of the frame wall. The first and second shear reinforcing posts each comprising a tubular structure having a laterally facing opening adjacent each longitudinal end of the shear reinforcing post.

C1. A shear reinforcing post comprising a tube having a length and opposite longitudinal edge portions. An opening in each of the longitudinal end portions is sized and shaped for attaching the post to a tie rod.

C2. The shear reinforcing post of statement C1 having a cinch nut disposed in one of the longitudinal end portions, the cinch nut being accessible through one of the openings.

C3. The shear reinforcing post of statement C1 wherein the tube includes a first, second, third and fourth side walls extending a majority of a length of the tube, the first and third side wall being in opposed, spaced relation with each other and the second and fourth side walls being in opposed, spaced relation with each other.

D1. A method of constructing a frame building resistant to lateral loads applied to the building, the method comprising:

- making at a factory remote from a building site where the building is to be constructed one or more shear walls, each shear wall comprising a top plate, a sill, studs extending between the top plate and sill at spaced apart locations, and a shear reinforcement structure located between adjacent studs, the shear reinforcement structure being joined to each of the adjacent studs; and
- transporting one or more of the shear walls to the building site;
- erecting the shear wall on a foundation or on top of a frame wall of the frame building.

D2. The method of statement D1 further comprising attaching sheathing to the shear wall.

SHEAR REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURE FOR LIGHT-FRAME CONSTRUCTION

Information

Publication Number

Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

Original Assignees

CPC

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Provisional Applications (1)