Economic racking additions for timber frame houses

[drscottuk]

Morning Everyone,
After some time designing timber frame houses, I have noticed that there does not seem to be many alternative options on the market for lateral bracing to aid wind racking. Ofcourse, the clients would prefer anything less costly than steel racking frames to support the more unusual designs.

Apart from the usual "creative engineering" in modifying the timber sheathed walls, is there any other option which I may have missed that is recognised by the new Eurocodes / British Standards?

I looked into structural injection foam, but there is no tabular source giving concrete KN/m^2 racking strength additions for this method.

Is there any form of steel L shaped brace around? Or a form of diagonal "X" bracing between the sheathed panels?

 

[swearingen]

I've seen several off-the-shelf shear walls in the trade magazines. Some are corrugated metal and some are wood:

http://www.ilevel.com/walls/w_tj_shear_panel.aspx

You will have to make sure they meet your local code, though.



If you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - DCS

 

[drscottuk]

nice, just calced = 10x the racking of typical shear panels of the same dimensions! (check the .41m width panel)

They are not advertised in the UK though, does anyone know of a supplier of equivalent strength timber prefab "shear panels" in the UK? It seems bizarre that they are not widely available here!

 

[Ussuri]

I have use TJI joists in the UK before.

"i Level specialise in tji joists. Leads the world's engineered lumber market with innovative products, systems, and services.

Also listed in: roofs, roofing products, floor joists...
Address: East Barn, Perry Mill Farm , Birmingham Road, Hopwood, Worcestershire, B48 7AJ, 01214 456 666"