Structural capacity of prefabricated wall-stud units in preserved wood foundations

Abstract

T h i s report compares an E c o s t u d ( p r e f a b r i c a t e d wood w a l l u n it made from a combination of two 38x89 studs) to a s i n g le r e g u l a r w a l l stud (38x89, 38x140, 38x184) as to how they perform, s t r u c t u r a l l y , under foundation w a l l loads. The r e p o r t i n c l u d e s both l a b o r a t o r y experimentation t e s t i n g as w e l l as M-STRUDL computer a n a l y s i s of a model. Design t a b l e s , s o i l load v e r s u s a l l o w a b l e a x i a l compression l o a d s , have been prepared f o r the E c o s t u d based on c e r t a i n assumptions, s i m i l a r to those a v a i l a b l e f o r r e g u l a r studs used by p r e s e r v e d wood foundation d e s i g n e r s. The c o n c l u s i o n i s t h a t E c o s t u d s , according to t h is conservative analysis approach, are s t r u c t u r a l l y i n f e r i o r to a r e g u l a r 38x184 s o l i d s e c t i o n s t u d . I t i s recommended that o t h e r s t r u c t u r a l a n a l y s i s approaches be c o n s i d e r e d to t r y to improve the f a c t o r e d compressive s t r e n g t h , Pr, of the u n i t , r e s u l t i n g i n a l e s s c o n s e r v a t i v e and perhaps more r e a l i s t ic l o a d i n g c a p a c i t y for the E c o s t u d.