Timber Frame Walls Flashcards
Load bearing walls
Support the roof and ceiling joists. They transfer roof load down to subfloor members and then to the ground.
Example sentence: The load bearing walls in this house are made of concrete blocks.
Bracing walls
Give structural stability to a building by giving shear strength to the frame.
Additional information: Bracing walls are essential in earthquake-prone areas.
Studs
Transfer load from top plate to bottom plate.
Example sentence: The carpenter installed the studs before attaching the drywall.
Noggings
Stop studs bending under compressive load.
Additional information: Noggings are typically placed between studs for added support.
Bracing
Stops wall frame racking i.e. collapsing along its own length like dominos.
Example sentence: The diagonal bracing prevented the wall from collapsing.
Bottom plate
Distributes load from studs to floor joists, slab or other supporting structure.
Example sentence: The bottom plate is securely attached to the concrete foundation.
Lintels
Transfer load path above frame opening and distributes it to the adjoining and supporting structure via jamb studs arrangements at sides of openings.
Example sentence: The lintel above the window was made of reinforced steel.
Jamb stud
Supports the lintel and transfers the load to the adjoining structure for lintels of short spans.
Example sentence: The jamb stud was carefully positioned to support the heavy lintel.
Secondary (and additional jamb studs
Used where the span of the lintel is wide and concentrated loads must be transferred through supporting wall frame. The studs provide additional thickness to the jamb stud arrangement and stop the frame from distortion under load.
Example sentence: The architect specified additional jamb studs for extra support.
Temporary support brace
Used to support incomplete wall and roof frame structure during construction. Placed at right angles to the wall frame and connects the top plate to the floor frame or slab. This is essential during construction until all the wall and roof frames has been fully installed and permanent bracing attached to prevent frame failure due to wind loads.
Example sentence: The temporary support brace was removed once the permanent bracing was in place.
Sheet bracing
Structural plywood, hardboards (masonite), fibre cement (Hardibrace) or particleboard is nail fixed to the wall frame on the plates and studs. The shear strength of the sheet stops the wall from racking.The sheets must extend the full height of the wall frames.
Example sentence: The sheet bracing was painted to match the wall color.
Steel tension cross strap brace
Used in opposing pairs these straps act only in tension. They are flat straps of gm steel fixed to top and bottom plate with a distorting bracket and wingnut that shortens the strap length to impart tension after which strap is nailed to face of every stud/frame component it crosses.
Example sentence: The steel tension cross strap brace was installed to reinforce the wall structure.
Steel angle brace
20 x 20 ams angle to resist compressive and tensile forces in racking. Requires saw cut into framing members to be flush face finished.
Additional information: Steel angle braces are commonly used in industrial buildings.
Rebated timber bracing
Rarely used nowadays due to skill and labour intensive nature. The timber brace must be housed into the studs and plates.
Additional information: Rebated timber bracing was commonly used in older construction methods.
