Ti
BUILDING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES REPORTS

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BMSl Research on Building Materials and Structures for Use in Low-Cost Housing 10^ BMS2 Methods of Determining the Structural Properties of Low-Cost House Constructions 10^ BMS3 Suitability of Fiber Insulating Lath as a Plaster Base 10^ BMS4 Accelerated Aging of Fiber Building Boards 10^ BMS5 Structural Properties of Six Masonry Wall Constructions 15^ BMS6 Survey of Roofing Materials in the Southeastern States 15p

BMS7 Water Permeability of Masonry Walls 10^ BMS8 Methods of Investigation of Surface Treatment for Corrosion Protection of Steel 10^ BMS9 Structural Properties of the Insulated Steel Construction Co.'s "Frameless-Steel" Constructions for Walls, Partitions, Floors, and Roofs lOji BMSIO Structural Properties of One of the "Keystone Beam Steel Floor" Constructions Sponsored by the H. H. Robertson Co lOjS BMSll Structural Properties of the Curren Fabrihome Corporation's "Fabrihome" Constructions

for Walls and Partitions lOjS BMS12 Structural Properties of "Steelox" Constructions for Walls, Partitions, Floors, and Roofs

Sponsored by Steel Buildings, Inc 15fi BMS13 Properties of Some Fiber Building Boards of Current Manufacture lO^i BMS14 Indentation and Recovery of Low-Cost Floor Coverings lOf^ BMS15 Structural Properties of "Wheeling Long-Span Steel Floor" Construction Sponsored by

the Wheeling Corrugating Co 10^ BMS16 Structural Properties of a "Tilecrete" Floor Construction Sponsored by Tilecrete

Floors, Inc 100 BMS17 Sound Insulation of Wall and Floor Constructions 10(4 Supplement to BMS17, Sound Insulation of Wall and Floor and Wall Constructions 5(4 BMS18 Structural Properties of "Pre-Fab" Constructions for Walls, Partitions, and Floors Sponsored by the Harnischfeger Corporation lOji BMS19 Preparation and Revision of Building Codes ISjS BMS20 Structural Properties of "Twachtman" Constructions for WaUs and Floors Sponsored

by Connecticut Pre-Cast Buildings Corporation 10?S BMS21 Structural Properties of a Concrete-Block Cavity- Wall Construction Sponsored by the National Concrete Masonry Association 10(4 BMS22 Structural Properties of "Dun-Ti-Stone" Wall Construction Sponsored by the W. E. Dunn

Manufacturing Co 10^ BMS23 Structural Properties of a Brick Cavity-Wall Construction Sponsored by the Brick

Manufacturers Association of New York, Inc lOji BMS24 Structural Properties of a Reinforced-Brick Wall Construction and a Brick-Tile CavityWall Construction Sponsored by the Structural Clay Products Institute lOjS BMS25 Structural Properties of Conventional Wood-Frame Constructions for Walls, Partitions,

Floors, and Roofs 15(4 BMS26 Structural Properties of "Nelson Pre-Cast Concrete Foundation" WaU Construction

Sponsored by the Nelson Cement Stone Co., Inc lOjS BMS27 Structural Properties of "Bender Steel Home" Wall Construction Sponsored by The

Bender Body Co - lO^i EMS28 Backflow Prevention in Over-Rim Water Supplies 10(4 BMS29 Survey of Roofing Materials in the Northeastern States 10^ BMS30 Structural Properties of a Wood-Frame Wall Construction Sponsored by the Douglas

Fir Plywood Association 10(4 BMS31 Structural Properties of "Insulite" Wall and "Insulite" Partition Constructions Sponsored by The Insulite Co 15^ BMS32 Structural Properties of Two Brick-Concrete-Block Wall Constructions and a Concrete- Block Wall Construction Sponsored by the National Concrete Masonry Association. lOji BMS33 Plastic Calking Materials 10(4 BMS34 Performance Test of Floor Coverings for use in Low-Cost Housing: Part 1 10(4 BMS35 Stability of Sheathing Papers as Determined by Accelerated Aging 100

[List continued on cover page III]
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • Jesse H. Jones, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS • Lyman J. Briggs, Director

BUILDING MATERIALS

and STRUCTURES

REPORT BMS89

Structural Properties of "Precision-Built, Jr."

(Second Construction) Prefabricated Wood-Frame Wall Construction

Sponsored by the Homasote Co.

by W. GAIL HOBACK, HERMAN L. WEISS, and VINCENT B. PHELAN

with the collaboration of the Forest Producti Laboratory, Forest Service, United States Department ot Agriculture

ISSUED JULY 17, 1942

The National Bureau of Standards is a fact-finding organization;

it does not "approve" any particular material or method of construction. The technical findings in this series ot reports are to be construed accordingly.

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE • WASHINGTON • I942

FOR SALE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, WASHINGTON, D. C. . PRICE I5 CENTS
Foreword

This report is one of a series issued by the National Bureau of Standards on the

structuial properties ol constructions intended for low-cost houses and apartments.

These constructions were sponsored by organizations within the building industry advocatmg and promoting their use. The sponsor built and submitted the specimens described in this report for participation in the program outlined in BMS2, Methods of

Determining the Structural Properties of Low-Cost House Constructions. The sponsor,

therefore, is responsible for the design of the constructions and for the description of

materials and method of fabrication. The Bureau is responsible for the testing of the

specimens and the preparation of the report.

This report covers only the load-deformation relations and strength of the structural

element submitted when subjected to compressive, transverse, concentrated, impact,

and racking loads by standardized methods simulatmg the loads to which the element

would be subjected in actual service.

The Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, United States Department of

Agriculture collaliorated in the tests of those constructions which had wood stnictural

members.

The National Bureau of Standards does not "approve" a construction, nor does it express an opinion as to its merits for reasons given in reports BMSl and BMS2. The

technical facts presented in this series provide the basic data from which architects and

engineers can determine whether a construction meets desired performance requirements.

Lyman J. Briggs, Director.

[II]
Structural Properties of "Precision-Built, Jr."

econd Construction) Prefabricated Wood Frame Wall

Construction Sponsored by the Homasote Co.

by W. GAIL HOBACK, HERMAN L. WEISS,

and VINCENT B. PHELAN

with the collaboration of the

Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, United States Department ot Agriculture

CON

Paye

Foreword ii

I. Introduction 1

II. Sponsor and product 2

III. Specimens and tests 2 IV. Materials 3

1. Wood 3

2. Insulating fiberboard 4

3. Sheathing paper 4

4. Nails 5

5. Glue 5

ENTS

Page

V. Wall DQ 5

1. Sponsor's statement 5

(a) Four-foot specimens 6

(b) Eight-foot specimens 6

2. Compressive load 7

3. Transverse load 9

4. Concentrated load 10

5. Impact load 10

6. Raclving load 10 VI. Comments by sponsor i 12

ABSTRACT

For the program on the determination of the structural properties of low-cost house constructions, the Homasote Co., Trenton, N. J., submitted 18 specimens

representing a wall construction consisting of a wood

frame with "Homasote" insulating fiberboard on the

inside face and bevel siding on the outside face. The specimens were subjected to compressive, transverse, concentrated, impact, and racking loads, for each

of which three like specimens were tested. The transverse, concentrated, and impact loads were applied to both faces of the specimens.

The deformation underload and the set after the load was removed were measured for each increment of load. The results are presented in graphs and tables.

I. INTRODUCTION

To provide technical facts on the performance

of constructions for low-cost houses, to dis- cover promising new constructions, and tilti- mately to determine the properties necessary

for acceptable performance in actual service,

the National Bureau of Standards has invited

the cooperation of the building industry in a program of research on building materials and

structures suitable for low-cost houses and

apartments. The objectives of this program

are described in BMSl, Research on Buildina,-

Materials and Structures for Use in Low-Cost

Housing.

To determine the strength of house constructions in the laboratory, standardized methods

were developed for applying loads simulating

the loads to which a completed house is subjected. Included in this study were masonry

and wood constructions of types which have

been extensively used in this country for houses and whose behavior under widely dif- ferent service conditions is well known to builders and the public. The reports on these

[1]
constructions are BMS5, Structural Properties

of Six Masonry Wall Constructions, and

BMS25, Structural Properties of Conventional

Wood-Frame Constructions for Walls, Partitions, Floors, and Roofs. The masonry

specimens were built by the Masonry Construction Section of this Bureau, and the woodframe specimens were built and tested by the

Forest Products Laboratory at Madison, Wis.

The present report describes the structural

properties of one element of a house sponsored

by one of the manufact\u-ers in the building

industry. The wall specimens were subjected

to compressive, transverse, concentrated, impact, and racking loads simulating the loads

to which walls are subjected. In actual service

compressive loads on the walls of a one-story

house are produced by the weight of the roof

and by snow and wind loads; transverse loads

are produced by wind, concentrated and impact

loads by accidental contact with heavy objects,

and racking loads by the action of the wind on

adjoining walls. The deflection and set under each increment

of load were measured, because the suitability

of a construction depends not only on its resistance to deformation when loads are applied but also on its ability to return to its original size and shape when the loads are removed.

II. SPONSOR AND PRODUCT

The Homasote Co. sponsored BMS48, Structural Properties of "Precision-Built" Frame

Wall and Partition Constructions, and BMS72,

Structural Properties of "Precision-Built, Jr." Prefabricated Wood-Frame Wall Construction.

The present report, sponsored by the same

organization, gives the results on "PrecisionBuilt, Jr." (Second Construction).

The wall construction consists of a wood

frame with "Homasote" insulating fiberboard

fastened to the inside face by glue and nails

and wood bevel siding fastened to the outside

face by nails.

III. SPECIMENS AND TESTS

The wall construction was assigned the

symbol DQ, and the individual speciniens were

assigned the designations given in table 1.

Table 1.

Specimen designations, wall DQ

Specimen designation

CI, C2. CS...

Tl, T2. T3.^.

Ti. T5, re... PI, Pg. PS f _ Pi. PS, Pfi ». //, 12, IS U, 7.5, ir: PI, PS. RS._.

Load

Compressive

Transverse do

Concentrated. .

.

___do Impact

do Racking

Load ipplied

Upper end.

Inside face. Outside face. Inside face. Outside face. Inside face. Outside face. Top plate.

" The concentrated and impact loads were ai)plied to the same speci- mens. The concentrated load was applied first. Except as mentioned below, the specimens were tested in accordance with BMS2. That

report also gives the requirements for specimens

and describes the presentation of the results of

the tests, particularly the load-deformation

graphs.

For the compressive load the thickness of the

specimens was taken as the thickness of the

structural portion, that is, the thickness of the

frame. The compressive load was applied

along a line parallel to the faces and at onethird the thickness of the frame from the inside

sm-face of the studs.

Under compressive load, the shortening of the entire specimen may not be proportional

to the value obtained from compressometers

attached to the specimen over only a portion

of its height ; therefore, the shortenings and the

sets were measui'cd with compressometers at- tached to the plates through which the load was applied, not attached to the specimen as described in BMS2.

The indentation under concentrated load and

the set after the load was removed were measured, not the set only, as described in BMS2.

The apparatus is shown in figure 1. The load was applied to a steel disk. A, to which the crossbar, B, was rigidly attached,

and was measured by means of the dynamometer, C. Two stands, D, rested on the face

of the specimen, one over each inner stud.

Each stand supported a dial micrometer, E,

the spindle of which was in contact with the

crossbar 8 in. from the disk. The micrometers were graduated to 0.001 in., and readings were recorded to the nearest division. The

initial reading (average of the micrometer

readings) was observed under the initial load,

which included the weight of the disk and dynamometer. A load was applied to the disk,

and the average of the micrometer readings

[2]
Figure 1.

Apparatus for concentrated-load test.

.l.slwldisk; B, cross bar; C, dynamometer; 7), stand; A', dialmicrometiT.

itiinus the initial reading was taken as the

tiepth of the indentation under load.

The deflections and sets under the impact

load were measured by means of two deflec- tometers and two set gages, not one of each

as described in BMS2. The deflectometers were placed in contact with the unloaded face

of the specimen at midspan, one under each

outer stud, and the set gages rested on the loaded

face, one over each outer stud. The readings,

therefore, were not afi^ected by local deformations of the faces. The deformations under racking load were measured with a right-angle deformeter, consisting of a steel channel and a steel angle

braced to form a rigid connection. The channel rested on two steel plates, in. thick and

4 in. square, on top of the specimen, with the

steel angle extending downward in the plane of the specimen. Two pins passed snugly throtigh

the web of the channel into the top plate of the specimen. The floor plate was m contact

with the stop, to which a dial micrometer was

attached. The micrometer spindle was in contact with the steel angle of the deformeter.

The gage length (distance from the top of the

specimen to the center of the spiiidle) was 7

ft. 10 in. The micrometer was gi-aduatcd to 0.001 in., and readings were recorded to the

nearest division. The deformeter was used

instead of the taut-wire mirror-scale device

described in BMS2.

The tests were begun January 22, 1942, and

completed January 30, 1942. The sponsor's

representative witnessed the tests.

IV. MATERIALS

Unless otherwise stated, the information on

materials was obtained from the sponsor and

from inspection of the specimens. The Forest

Products Laboratory identified the species of the wood. The Paper Section of the National

Bureau of Standards determined the physical

])roperties of the fiberboard, and the Engineering Mechanics Section determined the moisture

content of the wood and fiberboard.

1. Wood

Framing.—The wood for the framing was

identified as Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga taxUolia,

No. 1 common, S4S (surfaced four sides). Sizes

1% by 2% in. (nominal 2 by 3 in.). Bevel siding.—Western red cedar, %6 by jU by

7^2 in., select, grade B or better. Spacer blocks.—Identified as balsam fir, No. 2 common, ^^^2 by 1% in. (nominal 1 by 2 in.), S4S.

After each specimen was tested, the fiber- board face was removed to expose the framing

and a sample of the bevel siding, spacer block,

and framing was taken for identification of the

species and for determination of the moisture

content. Photographs were made of each specimen showing the failures and the character of the wood in the framing. Typical specimens

are shown in figures 2 and 3. A spacer block and the sample of bevel siding

from each specimen were dried to constant

weight at 212° F and the moisture content was

calculated. The results are given in table 2. Table 2.

Moistiire content of ivood and fiberboard

[Dotermined on the day the wall specimen was tested]

Material

Moisture content "

Minimum Maximum Average

Bevel siding, western red cedar. . _ Spacer blocks, balsam fir . ... . Framing, Dousrlas fir Fiberboard ,

Percent

4

46

4

Percent

s

8

18

Percent

6

6

12

5

» Based on weight when ovendry.

[3]
FiGUBJE 2—Wall DQ.

Typical 4-foot specimen.

For each specimen, readings were taken with an electric moisture meter on each piece of framing. To calibrate the moisture meter for Douglas fir, moisture determinations were made on one piece of framing from each specimen by drying it to constant weight at 212° F. From these determinations the correction to be

added algebraically to the meter readings was

—0.65. Values of the moisture content given

in table 2 were obtained by applying this cor- rection to the average of the meter readings and

rounding the result to the nearest whole percent.

2. Insulating Fiberboard

The insulating fiberboard was "Homasote,"

1/32 in. thick, made from vegetable fibers derived

largely from waste paper. The fibers are sized

with rosin and waxes to increase water resistance

and then felted into boards.

The physical properties, given in table 3 were

determined on undamaged samples taken from

the wall specimens after testing. The linear ex- pansion, tensile strength, transverse strength

and deflection , and water absorption were determined in accordance with Federal Specification

LLL-F-321a, Fiberboard; Insulating. For

these properties the board complied with requirements for Class A. The terminal conductivity failed to comply with the requirements for Class A, for which the maximum value is 0.36

(Btii/hr ft^) (°F/in.).

Table 3.Physical properties of insnlating hoard, 15132 in. thick

[The samples were taken from the wall sijeeiraons after they had

' been tested]

Property Value

Tensile strength: Machine direction lb/in.! 496 Cross direction lb/in.' 480 Transverse strength: » Machine direction lb 25 Cross direction .. lb 23 Deflection at rupture: Machine direction _ . ... in._ 0.73 Cross direction . .in .82 Linear expansion for 45 percent change in relative humidity:Machine direction . . . . percent .26 Cross direction .percent .35 Nail-holdinp! strength- Machine direction _ . lb 101 Cross direction. lb 95 Density, after drying 24 hours at 160 'F lb/ft3 . 23 3 Air permeability — (tt-Vhr ft2)/nb/in.2). 31 Water absorption, by volume . . _ percent 2. 5 Thermal conductivity (Btu/hr ft2)/(°F/in.) bO. 43

f Span. 12 in.: width of specimens, 3 in.

k Value given by sponsor. The moisture content of the fiberboard was

determined on one sample from each specimen

by drying at 212° F until the weight was constant. The result is given in table 2.

3. Sheathing Paper

The sheathing paper was rod paper, rosinsized, weight 30 lb/500 ft^; width 3 ft 0 in.

[4]
Figure S.—Wall DQ.

Typical 8-foot speciii:eii.

4. Nails

A description of the steel-wire nails is given

in table 4.

Table 4.

Description of steel-wire nails

Type

Common

Do

Do

Special Homasote '

Penny

5

10

16

No. 12W

in.

0. 0985

. 1438

. 1620

. 0625

Finish

Zinc coated Bright do Cement coated

.

25169

744

" 5/32 in. thin flat head, long diamond point.

5. Glue

Casein glue, grade A, ground. Formula:

casein, 65 percent; liine, 15 percent; and dis- persing agents and secret ingi-edients. One

part of glue was mixed with one part of water,

by volume, to which were added 2 ounces of kerosene per pound of dry glue. The glue

complied with United States Army Specification 3-152-A and United States Navy Specification 52G8b. I. F. Laucks Inc., "Lauxein

V. WALL DQ

1. Sponsor's Statement

Wall DQ was a wood-frame construction

[5]
having wood bevel siding on the outside face

and insuhiting fibcrboard on the inside face,

fastened by both glue and nails. The speci- mens were not painted.

The price of this construction in Washington, D. C, as of July 1937, was $0.18/ft^

(a) Four-Foot Specimens

The 4-ft specunens, shown in figure 4, were

Figure 4.

Four-foot specimen DQ.

A, studs; a. floor plate; C, top plate; D, bevel siding; E, sheathing paper;

F, inside face; G, spacer blocks.

8 ft 0 in. high, 4 ft 0 in. wide, and 3% in. thick. Each was a wood frame to which faces

were fastened. The frame consisted of four ' studs, A, fastened to a floor plate, B, and a top

plate C. The outside face was bevel siding, D,

over sheathing paper, E. The inside face was

one sheet of insulating fiberboard, F, The ] edges of the faces were connected by wood

spacer blocks G. ^

Studs.—The studs, A, were Douglas fir, 1% \ by 2% in. (nominal 2 by 3 in.), 7 ft. 8% in. long, j spaced 1 ft. 0 in. on centers. Each stud was

fastened to the flooi' plate and the top plate

by two 16d common nails extending through

each plate and into the stud.

Floor plate and top plate.—Both floor plate,

B, and top plate, C, were Douglas fir, 1% by

2% in. (nominal 2 by 3 in.), 4 ft. 0 in. long.

Bevel siding.—The bevel siding, D, was 16

pieces of western red-cedar siding, %6 by by

7)^ in., 4 ft 0 in. long, laid 6 in. to the weather.

The siding was fastened at each stud by one

5d zinc-coated common nail extending through ' the overlapping edges and into the stud.

Sheathing paper.—The sheathing paper, E, was one piece, 3 ft 0 in. wide and 8 ft 0 in. long,

laid longitudinally over the studs and equidistant from each edge of the specimen. The

paper was fastened to the top plate and floor j plate by two or three "Homasote" nails at each end before the siding was applied.

j, Insulating fiberboard. —The insulating fiber- i board, F, was ^/^2 in. thick, 8 ft. 0 in. high, and

4 ft. 0 in. wide, fastened to the floor plate, top

plate, and studs by both glue and nails. The

glue was liberally applied to the studs and

plates by a roller. The nails were special

"Homasote" nails spaced about 6 in. along the

plates and 10 in. along the studs.

Spacer blocks.—The spacer blocks, 6, were balsam fir, '^%2 by 1% in., 2% in. long, spaced 1 ft. 0 in. on centers, fastened by three "Homasote"

nails, one extending through the bevel siding

and two thi'ough the insulating fiberboard.

(6) Eight-Foot Specimens

The 8-ft. specimens, shown in figure 5, were

8 ft. 0 in. high, 8 ft. 0 in. wide, and 3% in. thick. The specimens were similar to the 4-ft.

[6]
specimPiis except for the following differences:

There were nine studs (not four). Ench

outer stud was centered 11 in. from the

adjacent stud. The other seven studs were

spaced 1 ft. 0 m. on centers. The bevel siding was 8 ft. 0 in. long. Tliree pieces of sheathing

paper were laid transversely over the studs and

lapped 6 in. The insulating fiberboard was

8 ft. 0 in. wide; the nails for fastening the

fiberbonrd to the outer st-iids were spaced 6 in. (not 10 hi.).

2. Compressive Load

Specimen DQ~CS under compressive load is shown in figure 6. The results for specimens

DQ-C1 , and C2, and C3 are shown in table 5 and figures 7 and 8.

FiGUHE 5.

Eight-foot specimen DQ.

A, studs; B, floor plate; C, top plate; I>. bevel siding; E, sheathing paper; F. inside face.

466244°—42- 7]

i
Table 5.

Structural properties of wall DQ

[Weight, based on face area: 2.99 Ib/ft^l

Compressive load" Transverse load; span

7 ft. 6 in. Concentrated load; diameter

of disk 1 in. Impact load; span 7 ft. fi in.; weight of sandbag 60 lb. Racking load

Specimen Maximum

lo.id Specimen Ma,ximum

load Specimen Maximum Specimen Maximum

height of drop Specimen Maximum

CI

" Kips/ft

6. 73

5. 52

5. 45

Tl 195 216

195

PI 224

236

240

11

ft 3.0

2.5 2.5

Rl

» Kiplfl

0. 90 .89

.82 « T2 P2 12 RZ

C3 TS PS..-. 13 R3

Average 5. 90 Average... 2(12 Average-.

233 .\verage__ 2.7 .-Vverage... .87 T4 220

179

199

PJ, 397 420

400

Ji, 6.5

5. 5 6.0 To P5 B

T6 P6 le A verp.ee Average... -Average.

.

199 40fi r,. n

a Load applied 0.88 in. (}4 the thickness of the frame) from the inside surface of the studs. 7

u A kip is 1.000 lb.

I

I

6

5

3

2

0^

o ' o

f • •

1

• o f CD

/ • • •

1—o

j-a>

D / CD

/ o

• •o po Y DQ

Figure 6.— ll'a// apecimen l)Q~C'i under coin pressive

load. A, deflectometer; B, conipressometer.

O O./ O.^ 0.3 0.4

shorten/ng /n, Figure 7.

Compressive load on wall DQ.

Load-shortening (open circles) and load-set (solid circles) results for specimens DQ-Cl, C2, and C3. The load was applied 0.88 in. (one- third the thickness of the frame) from the inside surface of the studs. The loads are in kips per foot of actual width of specimen.

The speed of the movable head of the testing

machine was adjusted to 0.072 in./min.

The lateral deflections shown in figure 8 were

plotted to the right of the vertical axis for deflections of the specimen toward the outside

face (positive deflection) and to the left of the

axis for deflections toward the inside face (negative deflection).

Under the maximum load on each specimen,

the insulating fiberboard buckled and separated

from the studs at the upper portion of the specimen; the top plates of specimens CI and C2

crushed over the studs at the inside edge. The

bottom plate of specimen C3 crushed under the

[8]
-0.2 O 0.2 O.^ 0.6

/otero/ de//ecf-/on /n. Figure 8.

Compressive load on wall DQ.

Load-lateral deflection (open circles) and load-lateral set (solid circles) results for specimens DQ-Cl, C2, and CS. The load was applied 0.88

in. (one-third tne thickness of the frame) from the inside face of the

studs. The loads are in kips per foot of actual width of specimen. The deflections and sets are for a gage length of 7 ft . 6 in., the gage

length of the deflectometers.

studs at the outside edge. Under maximum

load on each specimen, the studs continued to bend laterally toward the outside face (the face

farther from the load line).

8. Tr.xnsverse Load

Specimen DQ TJi undcf transverse load is shown in figure 9. The results are presented in table 5 and in figure 10 for specimens DQ-Tl,

T2, and TS, loaded on the inside face, and in

table 5 and figure 11 for specimens DQ-TJf, T5,

and T6, loaded on the outside face. The speed of the movable head of the testing

machine under no load was adjusted to 0.193

in./min.

Under a load of 153 lb/ft ^, one outer stud in specimen Tl ruptured under a loading roller. In specimen T8 at a load of 175 lb/ft ^, an outer stud ruptured at a knot near a loading roller,

and under a load of 187 lb/ft ^, the other outer

stud ruptured at midspan.

Under the maximum load, both outer studs

and one inner stud ruptured in specimens Tl

and TS. In specimen T2 one outer stud and

the adjacent inner stud ruptured under the

maximum load.

Under a load of 170 lb/ft ^ an outer stud of specimen T5 cracked longitudinally between

two knots undei' a loading roller. Under the maximum load, one inner stud

ruptured in specimens T4 and T6, and in specimen T5 both outer stiids and one inner stud

ruptured. The ruptured inner stud in specimen

T4 caused the insulating fiberboard to separate

Figure 9. —Wall specimen DQ-T4 under transverse load.

[9]
200

/GO

50

o

oo 1

•

T' O 0.5 /.O /.5 ZO

def/ect/on /'n. Figure 10.—Transverse load on wall DQ, load applied to inside face.

Load-deflection (open circles) and load-set (solid circles) result? for speci- mens DQ-Tl, T2, and Ti on the span 7 ft. fi in. The load (pounds per square foot) is the total load divided by the product of the span and the width of the specimen.

200

'k/50

I

/OO

50

0^

• c )

/ 4-

op

o £>

DCI-t O 0.5 /.O 15 20 25

def/ecf/on /n. Figure 11. —Transverse load on wall DQ, load applied to outside face.

liOad-deflection (open circles) and load-set (solid circles) results for speci- mens DQ-TJt, T.i, and T6 on the span 7 ft. 6 in. The load (pounds per square foot) is the total load divided by the product of the span and the width of the specimen.

from the studs; the inside faces (fiberboard) of

specimens T5 and T6 were undamaged.

4. Concentrated Load

The results of the concentrated-load tests are shown in table 5 and in figure 12 for specimens

DQ-Pl, P2, and PS, loaded on the inside face,

and in figure 13 for specimens DQ-P4, P5, and

P6, loaded on the outside face. The concentrated load was applied midway

between two studs and 17 in. from one end on

specimens DQ-Pl, P2, and PS and 21 in. from

one end on DQ-PJ^., P6, and P6. Under the

maximum load on specimens DQ-Pl, P2, and

PS, the disk punched through the fiberboard

and on specimens DQ-P4, P5, and P6', punched

through the bevel siding.

5. Impact Load

Specimen DQ-Il during the impact test is shown in figure 14. The results are given in

table 5 and in figure 15 for specimens DQ-Il,

12, and IS, loaded on the inside face; in figure 16

for specimens DQ--I4, 15, and 16, loaded on the

outside face. The impact loads were applied to the center of the specimen, the sandbag striking

the face midway between the two inner studs.

In specimens II, 12, and IS the fiberboard

fractured under the sandbag at a drop of 1.5 ft, and at a drop of 2.0 ft. the sandbag broke

through the fiberboard. At the maximum

drop the bevel siding on specimens II, 12, and

IS ruptured.

At a drop of 3.0 ft, 4.5 ft., and 2.0 ft for specimens 14, 15, and 16 respectively, the fiber- board separated from the outer studs at midspan. The bevel siding ruptured under the

sandbag on specimens I4 and 16 at a drop of 4.5 ft and on specimen 15 at a drop of 4.0 ft. At the maximum drop for specimens, I4, 15,

and 16, the fiberboard ruptured mider the

sandbag.

6. Racking Load

Specimen DQ-Rl under racldng load is shown in figure 17. The results on specimens

DQ-Rl, R2, and RS are given in table 5 and in

figure 18. The racking loads were applied to tlie top

plate, and the stop was in contact w ith the floor

[10]
Z40

200

/60

/20

60

40i

O

1

•

D

r 1 —

-o —•

/

1

9 O

O

11 •«

1/

D

1

1 I

/

,

T / u

PO 1

300

^ /OO

0

1—•

1 /

. o—

1

OOi —«•—

(

/

>

—(D / p

m •—

1

/» •

1» o- [/

u

O O./ 0.2 0.3 0.4

/nc/entot/on /n. FiGURK 12.

Conccnlraied load on wall DQ, load ap/jlicd

to inside face.

Load-indentation (open circles) and load-set (solid circles) results for specimens DQ-Pl, P2, and PS.

O 0/ 02 0.3 0.4

/nc/enfaf/'on in.

Figure 13.Concentrated lond on wall DQ, load applied

to outride face.

Load-indentation (open circles) and load-set (solid circles) results for specimens DQ~P4, P5, and P6.

FiGURJi 14.—Wall specimen DQ-Il during the impact test. A, deflectometcr; B, set gage.

11]
0.5

def/e ct/on

FifiURE 15.- JiiijHui load on wall DQ, loud (ijii)lird to

1718 idc face.

Height of droi>doflection (open circles) and height of droi>set (solid

circles) results for specimens DQ-Il. 12, and IS on the span 7 ft (i in.

o as /.o /.J ^o

def/ecr/on in. Figure 16.

Impact load on wall DQ, load applied to outside face.

Height of drop-deflection (open circles) and height of droi.>-set (solid

circles) results for spxctmens DQ-Ii, IS, and 16 on the span 7 ft 0 in.

0/ 0.£ 0.3

c/eformat/on /n/8ft

FiGURii 18.Racking load on wall DQ.

Load-deformation (open circles) and load-set (solid circles) results fur specimens DQ-RI, R2, and R3. The loads are in kips per foot of actuiil width of specimen.

plate at the (iiagonally opposite corner of the

specimen.

Under the maximum load the fiberboard

separated from the frame along the top and

bottom of specimen Rl, along the top of specimen E2, and along the bottom of specimen R3.

Also there was some local crushing of the fiber- board of specimen Rl at the loaded corner and

at the stop.

VI. COMMENTS BY SPONSOR

The construction described in this report was developed for defense housing and specifically for 5,000 houses to be built at Portsmouth,

Va. All the houses will be completed in 5 months. They are designed to be demountable; the sections are joined by bolts and lag screws. These features are not apparent in the

finished building, which closely resembles a conventionally built house.

Two important factors affecting the design

of this construction were availability of Homasote fiberboard and shortage of other building

materials. Metal fittings have been eliminated

wherever possible. Homasote was used only

as interior wall and ceiling surfaces and was not

used as sheathing on exterior walls, subflooring,

[12]
FiGUKE 17.-- ^y<Jll .VMrimrn DQ-Rl under racking load.

A, detormeter; B, dial micrometer; C, stop.

[13]
or roof sheathing as it was in previous constructions of this manufacturer. Typical details are shown in figure 19. Elements are fabricated in a shop near the building site, where jig tables

facilitate assembly.

Floor sections are approximately 7 ft wide

and 12 ft long. Girts (2 by 10 in.) and joists

(2 by 6 in., 16 in. on centers), resting on ledger

strips nailed to the girts, are supported on precast piers. Blanket insulation is installed between the joists, and factory-finished flooring is laid over the framing.

Wall sections are 7 ft 10 in. high and may be

as long as 21 ft. The 2- by 3-in. studs are spaced 12 in. on centers in all exterior walls and

load-bearing partitions and 16 in. on centers in other partitions. To these frames Homasote is fastened by glue and nails to form all interior surfaces. Building paper and wood bevel

siding are applied to the exterior of all outside

walls. Ceiling sections consist of joists (2 by 4 in., 12 in. on centers) which are cross furred on the

bottom with furring strips (1 by 2 in.), to

Figure 19. —Typical details of "Precision-Built, Jr." {second construction) house.

[ 14]
j which Homasote is gkied and nailed. Blanket

re

I insulation is installed between the ceiling joists

d directly on the furring strips.

D Roof sections consist of rafters (2 by 6 in.,

e 16 in. on centers) to which ^{e-in. plywood

sheathing is nailed. Asphalt shingles are applied after the house is erected.

The physical properties of the fiberboard were determined by C. G. Weber, of the Paper

Section of this Bureau, under the supervision of B. W. Scribner.

The descriptions and drawings were pre- pared by E. J. Schell and G. W. Shaw, of the

Building Practices and Specifications Section,

under the supervision of V. B. Phelan.

The structural properties were determined

by the Engineering Mechanics Section, under

the supervision of H. L. Wliittemore and M. F. Peck, with the assistance of the following

members of the professional stafl": R. Goldberg, E. I. Peizer, and L. R. Sweetman.

Washington, June 9, 1942.

[15]

BUILDING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES REPORTS

[Continued from cover page II] BMS36 Structural Properties of Wood-Frame Wall, Partition, Floor, and Roof Constructions

with "Red Stripe" Lath Sponsored by the Weston Paper and Manufacturing Co.. lOf! BMS37 Structural Properties of "Palisade Homes" Constructions for Walls, Partitions, and

Floors Sponsored by Palisade Homes lOji BMS3S Structural Properties of Two "Dunstone" Wall Constructions Sponsored by the W. E. Dunn Manufacturing Co lOj! BMS39 Structural Properties of a Wall Construction of "Pfeifer Units" Sponsored by the Wisconsin Units Co 10^ BMS40 Structural Properties of a Wall Construction of "Knap Concrete Wall Units" Sponsored

by Knap America, Inc 100 BMS41 Effect of Heating and Cooling on the Permeability of Masonry Walls 10^ BMS42 Structural Properties of Wood-Frame Wall and Partition Constructions With "Celotex"

Insulating Boards Sponsored by The Celotex Corporation 150 BMS43 Performance Test of Floor Coverings for Use in Low-Cost Housing: Part 2 100 BMS44 Surface Treatment of Steel Prior to Painting 100 BMS45 Air Infiltration Through Windows 100 BMS46 Structural Properties of "Scot-Bilt" Prefabricated Sheet-Steel Constructions for Walls,

Floors, and Roofs Sponsored by The Globe-Wernicke Co 100 BMS47 Structural Properties of Prefabricated Wood-Frame Constructions for Walls, Partitions,

and Floors Sponsored by American Houses, Inc 100 BMS48 Structural Properties of "Precision-Built" Frame Wall and Partition Constructions

Sponsored by the Homasote Co 100 BMS49 Metallic Roofing for Low-Cost House Construction 100 BMS50 Stability of Fiber Building Boards as Determined by Accelerated Aging 100 BMS51 Structural Properties of "Tilecrete Type A" Floor Construction Sponsored by the Tile- crete Corporation 100 BMS52 Efifect of Ceiling Insulation upon Summer Comfort 100 BMS53 Structural Properties of a Masonry Wall Construction of "Munlock Dry Wall Brick"

Sponsored by the Munlock Engineering Co 100 BMS54 Effect of Soot on the Rating of an Oil-Fired Heating Boiler 100 BMS55 Effects of Wetting and Drying on the Permeability of Masonry Walls 100 BMS56 A Survey of Humidities in Residences 100 BMS57 Roofing in the United States—Results of a Questionnaire 100 BMS58 Strength of Soft-Soldered Joints in Copper Tubing 100 BMS59 Properties of Adhesives for Floor Coverings 100 BMS60 Strength, Absorption, and Resistance to Laboratory Freezing and Thawing of Building

Bricks Produced in the United States 150 BMS61 Structural Properties of Two Nonreinforced Monolithic Concrete Wall Constructions 100 BMS62 Structural Properties of a Precast Joist Concrete Floor Construction Sponsored by the Portland Cement Association 100 BMS63 Moisture Condensation in Building Walls 100 BMS64 Solar Heating of Various Surfaces 100 BMS65 Methods of Estimating Loads in Plumbing Systems 100 BMS66 Plumbing Manual 200 BMS67 Structural Properties of "Mu-Steel" Prefabricated Sheet-Steel Constructions for Walls,

Partitions, Floors, and Roofs Sponsored by Herman A. Mugler 150 BMS68 Performance Test of Floor Coverings for Use in Low-Cost Housing: Part 3 150 BMS69 Stability of Fiber Sheathing Boards as Determined by Accelerated Aging 100 BMS70 Asphalt-Prepared Roll Roofings and Shingles 150 BMS71 Fire Tests of Wood- and Metal-Framed Partitions 100 BMS72 Structural Properties of "Precision-Built, Jr." Prefabricated Wood-Frame Wall Construction Sponsored by the Homasote Co 100 BMS73 Indentation Characteristics of Floor Coverings 100 BMS74 Structural and Heat-Transfer Properties of "U. S. S. Panelbilt" Prefabricated Sheet-Steel Constructions for Walls, Partitions, and Roofs Sponsored by the Tennessee Coal,

Iron, and Railroad Co 150 BMS75 Survey of Roofing Materials in the North Central States 150 BMS76 Effect of Outdoor Exposure on the Water Permeabihty of Masonry Walls 150 BMS77 Properties and Performance of Fiber Tile Boards 100 BMS78 Structural, Heat-Transfer, and Water-Permeability Properties of Five Earth-Wall Constructions 200 BMS79 Water-Distributing Systems for Buildings 150 BMS80 Performance Tests of Floor Coverings for Use in Low-Cost Housing: Part 4 150 BMS81 Field Inspectors' Check List for Building Constructions (cloth cover, 5 by 7J^ inches) 200 BMS82 Water Permeability of Walls Built of Masonry Units 200 BMS83 Strength of Sleeve Joints in Copper Tubing Made with Various Lead-Base Solders 100 BMS84 Survey of Roofing Materials in the South Central States 150 BMS85 Dimensional Changes of Floor Coverings with Changes in Relative Humidity and

Temperature 100 BMS86 Structural, Heat-Transfer, and Water-Permeability Properties of "Speedbrik" Wall

Construction Sponsored by the General Shale Products Corporation 150 BMS87 A Method for Developing Specifications for Building Construction 100 BMS89 Structural Properties of "Precision-Built, Jr." (Second Construction) Prefabricated Wood-Frame Wall Construction Sponsored by the Homasote Co 150