A111D7 ElDfiEb



I

J
II
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Bureau of Standards

JUL 16 1943 54-7 51

The program of research on building materials and structures, carried on by the

National Bureau of Standards, was undertaken with the assistance of the Central Housing Committee, an informal organization of Government agencies concerned with

housing construction and finance, which is cooperating iu the investigations through a subcommittee of principal technical assistants.

CENTRAL HOUSING COMMITTEE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL RESEARCH

Walter Junge, Chairman. A. C. Shire, Vice Chairman.

Federal Housing Administration. United States Housing Authority.

Sterling R. March, Secretary.

Albert G. Bear, George E. Knox,

Veterans' Administration. Yards and Docks (Navy).

Pierre Blouke, -r> t-i Federal Home Loan Bank Board (Fed- Vincent B. Phelan,

era! Loan Agency). National Bureau of Standards (ComCarroll W. Chamberlain,

merce).

Public Buildings Administration (Fed- Edward A. Poynton,

eral Works Agency). q^^^ j^^.^^ j^^^-^^ (Interior).

Joseph M. DallaValle,

Public Health Service (Federal Security George W. Trayer,

Agency). Forest Service (Agriculture).

John Donovan,

Farm Security Administration (Agri- Elsmere J. Walters,

culture). Construction Division (War).

CHAIRMEN OF SECTIONS

Specifications Materials Maintenance

Carroll W. Chamberlain Elsmere J. Walters John H. Schaefer

Mechanical Equipment Methods and Practices

Robert K. Thulman

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

STAFF COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION

Hugh L. Dryden, Chairman.

Mechanics and Sound.

Phaon H. Bates, Gustav E. F. Lundell,

Clay and Silicate Products. Chemistry.

HoBART C. Dickinson, Addams S. McAllister,

Heat and Power. Codes and Specifications.

Warren E. Emley, Henry S. Rawdon,

Organic and Fibrous Materials. Metallurgy.

The Forest Products Laboratory of the United States Department of Agriculture

is cooperating with both committees on investigations of wood constructions.

[For list of BMS publications and how to purchase, see cover page III.]
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • Harry L. Hopkins, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS • Lyman J. Briggs, Director

BUILDING MATERIALS

and STRUCTURES

REPORT BMS37

Structural Properties of

"Palisade Homes" Constructions for Walls, Partitions, and Floors

Sponsored by Palisade Homes

by HERBERT L. WHITTEMORE and AMBROSE H. STANG

with the collaboration of

Thomas R. C. Wilson,

Forest Products Laboratory,

Forest Service, United States Department oi Agriculture

ISSUED FEBRUARY 13, 1940

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

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

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE • WASHINGTON • I94O

FOR SALE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, WASHINGTON, D. 0. • PRICE TO CENTS
Foreword

This I'eport is one of a series issued by the National Bureau of Standards on the

structural properties of constructions intended for low-cost houses and apai-tments.

These constructions were sponsored by industrial organizations within the buUding

industry advocating and promoting their use. The sponsor built and submitted the

specimens described in this report for participation in the program outlined in report

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 the materials and of the method of fabrication. The Bureau

is responsible for the method of testing and the test results. This report covers only the load-deformation relations and strength of the walls,

partitions, and floors of a house when subjected to compressive, transverse, concentrated,

impact, and racking loads by standardized methods simulating the loads to which these

elements would be subjected in actual service. Later it may be feasible to determine

the heat transmission at ordinary temperatures and the fire resistance of these same

constructions and perhaps other properties.

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

Agriculture, collaborated in the tests of those constructions which had wood structural

members.

The National Bureau of Standards does not "approve" a construction, nor does it express an opinion as to the merits of a construction for the 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.

[11]
Structural Properties of "Palisade Homes" Constructions for Walls,

Partitions, and Floors Sponsored by Palisade Homes

by Herbert L. Whittemore and Ambrose H. Stang

with the collaboration of

Thomas R. C. Wilson, Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, United States

Department of Agriculture

CONTENTS

Page

Fore\\'ord : ii

I. Introduction 2 n. Sponsor and product 2 in. Specimens and tests 2 IV. Materials 3

1. Sponsor's statement 3

2. Wood_ 3

(a) Structural members 3

(b) Plywood wallboard. 3

(c) Flooring 3

(d) Battens 3

(e) Filler strips 4

3. Fastenings 5

(a) Nails 5

(bj Box strapping 6

(c) Perforated hanger iron 6

(d) Blind fasteners 6

(e) Corrugated fasteners 6

(f) Splines 6

4. Paint 6

5. Shellac varnish 6 V. Wall CB 6

1. Sponsor's statement 6

(a) Description , 6

(1) Four-foot wall specimens- 6

(2) Eight-foot wall speci- mens 7

(b) Comments 8

Page

V. Wall CB—Continued.

2. Compressive load 8

3. Transverse load 9

4. Concentrated load 9

5. Impact load 10

6. Racking load 12

VI. Partition CC 14

1. Sponsor's statement 14

(a) Description 14

(b) Comments 15

2. Concentrated load 15

3. Impact load 16 VII. Partition CD 16

1. Sponsor's statement 16

(a) Description 16

(b) Comments 18

2. Concentrated load 18

3. Impact load 19

VIII. Floor CE 19

1. Sponsor's statement 19

(a) Description 19

(b) Comments 20

2. Transverse load 21

3. Concentrated load 21

4. Impact load 23 IX. Additional comments by sponsor 23 X. Selected references 23

ABSTRACT

For the program on the determination of the structural properties of low-cost house constructions, Pali- sade Homes submitted 30 specimens representing their 'Palisade Homes" patented construction for walls, partitions, and floors. The wall specimens were subjected to compressive,

transverse, concentrated, impact, and raclving loads; the partition specimens to impact and concentrated

loads; and the floor specimens to transverse, concentrated, and impact loads. The transverse, concentrated, and impact loads were applied to both faces of wall specimens. For each of these loads three like specimens were tested. The deformation under load and the set after the load was removed were measured

for uniform increments of load, except for concentrated

loads, for which the set only was determined. The

results are presented in graphs and in tables.

[11
I. INTRODUCTION

To provide technical facts on the per- formance of constructions which might be used

in low-cost houses, to discover promising new

constructions, and ultimately to determine the

properties necessary for acceptable performance

in actual service, the National Bureau of Stajulards has invited the cooperation of the builduig

industry in a program of research on buikUng

materials and structures suitable for low-cost

houses and apartments. The objectives of this program are described in report BMSl, Research on Building Materials and Structures

for Use in Low-Cost Housing, and that part

of the program relating to structural properties

in report BMS2, Methods of Determuung the

Structural Properties of Low-Cost House

Constructions.

Masonry constructions and wood constructions of types which have been extensively

used in this country for houses were included

in the program because their behavior under

widely different service conditions is known to builders and the public. The reports on these

constructions are BMS5, Structural Properties

of Six Masonry Wall Constructions, and BMS25,

Stnictural Properties of Conventional WoodFrame Constructions for Walls, Partitions,

Floors, and Roofs. The masonry specimens were built by the Masonry Construction Section of this Bureau, and the wood-frame speci- mens were built and tested by the Forest

Products Laboratory at Madison, Wis.

The present report describes the structural

properties of constructions sponsored by one of the manufacturers in the building industry.

The specimens were subjected to compressive,

transverse, concentrated, impact, and racking

loads, simulating loads to which the elements

of a house are subjected. In actual service,

compressive loads on a wall are produced by

the weight of the roof, second floor and secondstory walls if any, furniture and occupants, and snow and wind loads on the roof. Transverse

loads on a wall are produced by the wind, concentrated loads by accidental contact with

heavy objects, and racking loads by the action

of the wind on adjoining walls. For nonloadbearing partitions, impact loads may be applied

accidentally by furniture or by a person falling

against a partition, and concentrated loads by a ladder or other object leaning against a partition. Transverse loads are applied to floors by

furniture and by the occupants; concentrated

loads by furniture, for example, the legs of a piano; and impact loads by objects falling on

the floor or by persons jumping on the floor. The deformation and set under each increment of load were measured because, considered

as a structure, the suitability of a construction

depends not only on its resistance to deformation when loads are applied but also on whether

it returns to its original size and shape when the

load is removed.

II. SPONSOR AND PRODUCT

The specimens were submitted by Palisade

Homes of New York, N. Y., and represented

constructions patented in the United States

and marketed under the trade name "Palisade

Homes." These constructions consisted of wood planks with matched edges fitted together

to form walls, partitions, and floors. A partition of wood-frame construction also was

submitted.

III. SPECIMENS AND TESTS

The specimens, which represented three

elements of a house, were assigned the following symbols: Wall, CB; plank partition, GC;

frame partition, CD; and floor, CE. The speci- mens were assigned the designations given hi

table L

Table 1.

Specimen designations

Element

Construction symbol

Specimen

designation Load Load applied

Wall CB

ICl, C2. C3.... Tl, T2,

T/,. T5. TfS.,- PI, P2, PS K. \Pi, PS, pr, »

Compressive..

Transverse do

Concentrated.. do

Upper end.

Inside face. Outside face. Inside face. Outside face. Inside face. Outside face. Near upper end.

Eitiier face. Do. Do.

Do. Upper face. Do.

Do.

Partition

(plank)

Partition

(frame)

Floor

CC

CD

CE

//, m, IS

lit, 15, 16 [R1, R2, R3.--

(PI, P2, PS

\U, 12, IS

(PI, P2, PS a__ 17/ , 12, IS

(Tl, T2, TS.-. \P1, P2, PS K.

[11, 12, IS

Impact

do Racking .. .

Concentrated.. Impact.

Concentrated.. Impact ... ..

Transverse

Concentrated.. Impact -

» The concentrated and impact loads were applied to the same speci- mens. The concentrated load was applied first

[2]
The specimens were tested in accordance

with BMS2, Methods of Deterniinhig the

Structural Properties of Low-Cost House Constructions, which also gives the requirements

for the specimens and describes the presentation of the results of the tests, particularly the

load-deformation graphs. Thomas R. C. Wilson, of the Forest Products Laboratorj^, Madison, Wis., cooperated with the Bureau staff in this work by giving advice and making suggestions on the technique of testing wood

structures. For the compressive test the thickness of the

wall was taken as the thickness of the structural

portion, that is, the distance from the inside

surface of the inward-projecting planks to the

outside surface of the outward-projecting planks.

The compressive load was applied one-third

this thickness from the inside surface of the

planks. The shortenings and sets were measured by means of compressometers attached

to the steel loading plates through which the

load was applied, not to the specimen as described in BMS2. For wood constructions

under compressive load there is considerable

local shortening caused by crushing of the

floor plate and top plate at the ends of the

studs. Therefore, the shortening of the entire

specimen is not proportional to the value

obtaijied from compressometers attached near

each end of the specimen.

The deformations under racking load were measured with a right-angle deformeter con- sistmg of a steel channel and a steel angle

braced to form a rigid connection. In use the

channel of the deformeter rested along the top

of the specimen with the steel angle extendmg

downward in the plane of the specimen. Two

pins passed snugly through holes in the channel

into the top of the specimen. A dial micrometer was attached to the lower end of the steel angle, with its spindle against the edge of the

specimen at the stop. The gage length (distance from the top of the specimen to the

micrometer spindle) was 6 ft 10 hi. The micrometers were graduated to 0.001 in. and

readings were recorded to the nearest division.

This deformeter was used instead of the taut- wire mirror-scale device described in BMS2.

Before applymg the loads, the speed of the

movable head of the testing machine was

measured under no load. For compressive

loacUng the speed was 0.072 ui./miii. For tiie trajisverse loadhig of walls the speed was 0.4 ui./min and of floors 0.25 in./niiji. These

values were recommended by tlie Forest

Products Laboratory.

The tests were begun November 9. 1938, ajid

completed November 28, 1938. The spojisor's

representative witnessed the tests.

IV. MATERIALS

1. Sponsor's Statement

The information for this statement was

obtained from the sponsor and from inspection

of the specimens.

The Forest Products Laboratory assisted the

sponsor by identifying the species of the wood.

2. Wood

(a) Structural Members

Structural members were eastern spruce, merchantable grade, dressed.

One sample of the framuig parts (planks,

studs, floor plates, top plates, joists, and end

members) was taken from each specimen.

The samples were identified as spruce {Picea

sp.)—other than Sitka spruce—with the ex- ception that four of the samples were true fir {Abies sp., probably balsam fir, Abies bal- samea).

ib) Plyvood Wallboard

Douglas fir, three-ply, bonded with waterresistant glue, wallboard grade (sound 1 side),

sanded, % in. tliick.

(c) Flooring

Reported by the sponsor as shortleaf pine

and identified as one of several species marketed

as southern yellow pine, grade No. 2, 25/32 m.

thick by 3?i6 in. face width (nominal 1 by 4 hi),

tongued and grooved, but not end-matched.

{d) Battens

Ponderosa pine, grade B or better, S4S

(surfaced four sides).

[3]
[e) Filler Strips

Softwood; fir, spruce, and pine, No. 2 com- mon, S4S.

After each specimen was tested one face was removed to expose the structural members

and photographs were taken to show the knots

and faihires. The character of the framing is indicated by figures 1 to 4.

Figure I.— Wall CB.

Typical specimen, except that many of tlie specimens did not show

"skip dressing" (dark areasl. The moisture content of the structural members, the wallboard, and the flooring is given

in table 2.

Table 2.

Moisture content of the ivood

[Determined on the day the wall, partition, or floor specimen was tested]

Wood Construction symbol

Moisture content "

Mini- mumMaxi- mum

Average

Structural members, eastern spruce. _

(CB

lea

1 CD

Percent

10

14

9

9

Percent

1822

1422

Percent

14

17

12

13

Average.

ICE

14

Wallboard, Douglas-flr ply- wood ICB \cc

lcz».

8

9

11

16

10

12

1010n

Average 10

Flooring, shortleaf pine CE 8 12 10

» Based on the weight when dry.

l<'i(u;Kii 2.Plank pariition CC

Typical specimen.

[4]
Figure 3.

Frame partition CD.

Typical specimen.

An eleotrio moisture meter was used wlicn

determining the moisture content of the structural members. The instructions with the

moisture meter gave correction values foi' several

species of wood. To determine the correction

factor for spruce, 30 samples from the planks,

joists, and studs were dried in an oven at 2 1 2° F

until the weight was constant. The moisture

content was the difference between the initial weight and the weight when dry, divided by the

weight when dry. The average value for

these samples was 2.4 greater than the average

for the meter readings; therefore the moisture

content of the spruce was obtained by adding

2.4 to the average of the meter readings and

rounding the result to the nearest whole number.

The moisture content of the wallboard was

determined by drying one sample from each

specimen in an oven at 212° F until the weight was constant. The moisture content of the

flooring was determined, using the moisture

meter, and was the uncorrected reading of the meter.

3. Fastenings

(a) Nails

All the nails were made from steel wire

except the cut flooring nails. The descriptions are given in table 3.

26 2

Figure i.—Floor CE.

Typical specimen. [5]
Table 3.

Description of nails

Type Size Length

steel Wire Gage

Diameter Finish

171 No. in. Box 2 1 151/2 0. 0672 Bright. Do 4 IH 14 .0800 Do. Bo\ coolers 6 m 13 .0915 Cement coated. Car, heavy . . . 4 10 .1350 Common 6 2 111/2 . 1130 Do 8 lOVi . 1314 Do 10 3 9 . 1483 Finishing 20 4 10 . 1350 Flooring, cut .. . 6 2 Lath _ 3 15 .0720 Blued or bright. Plasterboard IK' 9 . 1483 Roofing, barbed H

12

1312

1212

.0915

. 1055

. 1055

. 1055

Bright. Do. Do.

Do.

Do

Do

Shingle . . _ 6

{b) Box Strapping

Sheet steel, either % in. or % in. wide, No. 28

U. S. Std. Gage (0.0156 in. thick).

(c) Perforated Hanger Iron

Sheet steel, 1 in. wide. No. 20 U. S. Std. Gage

(0.0375 in. thick) having two rows of ^(e-in. holes, % in. apart, spaced iKe in. on centers, and

also a row of slots at midwidth, jU by % in., spaced 1}U in. on centers.

((/) Blind Fasteners

Sheet steel, \% by 1%, in.. No. 24 U. S. Std.

Gage (0.0245 in. thick), having five stamped

prongs projecting )'4 in. and a slot, %2 in. wide,

extending in. inward from one edge. Upson

Board Co.

(e) Corrugated Fasteners

Sheet steel, 1 in. wide, % in. long. No. 24

U. S. Std. Gage (0.0245 in. thick), five corrugations.

(/) Splines

Sheet steel, 1 by 4 in., No. 16 U. S. Std. Gage

(0.0625 in. thick).

4. Paint

Lead and oil, slate gray. Devoe & Raynolds

Co.'s No. 562.

5. Shellac Varnish

White shellac, 5 lb of shellac to 1 gal of alcohol. "Acme" brand.

V. WALL CB

1. Sponsor's Statement

(a) Description

Wall CB was a wood-plank construction

having plywood wallboard on the inside face. The price in Washington, D. C, as of July

1937, was $0.365/ftl

(1) Four-foot wall specimens.—The 4-ft wall

specimens were 8 ft 2 in. high, 4 ft 0 in. wide,

and 2% in. thick. Each specimen consisted of

six specially edge-matched planks. A, as shown

in figure 5, so assembled that alternate planks

projected % in. from the adjacent planks. The

planks were fastened to a grooved floor plate,

B, and a grooved top plate, C, by nails.

Figure 5.

Four-foot wall >ipeci7nen CB.

A, planks; S, floor plate; C, top plate; D, filler strip; E, plywood wall- board.

The outer surface of the planks formed the

outside face of the wall. The inside face of the

wall was plywood wallboard, E, shown in

[6]
figure 6, nailed to the planks and to vertical

filler strips, D, and to horizontal filler strips, F.

Figure 6.Details of wall specimen CB.

A, planks; B, floor plate; C, top plate; D, filler strip; E, plywood wall- board; F, filler strip.

The outside face, floor plate, top plate, and

edges of the specimens were covered with one

coat of lead-and-oil paint. The inside face was covered with one coat of shellac varnish.

Both paint and shellac were applied with a

brush.

Planks.—The planks, A, were eastern spruce, 1% by 8^%2 in. (nominal 2 by 9 in), 7 ft 11% in. long. The planks matched as shown in figure 6, resulting in a wall surface with every alternate

plank projecting % in. outward from adjacent

planks. After assembly the planks were held

by box strapping on the inside face, as shown

in figure 1. The strapping intended for each

specimen consisted of two horizontal pieces, one near the bottom, the other near the top;

and of four diagonal pieces, two across the

lower half and two across the iipper half of the

specimen. However, in most specimens one

or two diagonals were omitted. The strapf)ing was fastened to each inward -projecting plank

by three nails—either 4d box nails or %- or 1-iri. roofing nails. The strapping was not taut. The planks were also fastened at each vertical

joint by two to six 4d car nails toenailed IVoni the inside.

Floor- plate and top plate.—The floor plate, B,

and the top plate, C, were spruce, 1% by 3% in. (nominal 2 by 4 in.), 4 ft 1 in. long, witb a 2%- by %-in. groove. The ends were parallel

and beveled 1 in. across the width of tbe plate

(thickness of the wall). The plates fitted over

the ends of the planks, as shown in figure 6, and were fastened to each plank by one or two

lOd common nails or 20d finishing nails driven

from the bottom of the floor plate and the top

of the top plate. Five to eight 6d common

nails or 6d shingle nails were driven through

the inner lip of the floor plate and of the top

plate into the planks projecting inward.

Fille?- strips.—The edge filler strip, D, was

by IK in., 7 ft 9% in. long, and was at one edge

of the specimen, fastened to the projecting

plank by 2d box nails spaced 1 ft. This strip

is not used in a house. Horizontal filler strips,

F, % hj % in., TYii in. long, were fastened near

the top and bottom of each alternate plank by

two 2d box nails. Plywood wallboard.—The wallboard, E, was

K-in. Douglas-fir plywood, 7 ft 10}^ in. by 4 ft 0 in. It was fastened to the planks and filler strips by 3d lath nails, spaced 6 to 10 in. along

the top and bottom edges of the board and

about 12 in. along the vertical edges. The

grain of the outer plies was vertical. Battens,

% by Iji in., 7 ft lOK hi. long, were placed vertically over the plywood wallboard at midwidth

and at one edge and were fastened by 6d com- mon nails spaced 13 in., driven through the

battens and wallboard into the planks.

(2) Eight-foot wall specimens.—The 8-ft wall

specimens were 8 ft 2 in. high, 8 ft 0 in. wide,

and 2% in. thick. The specimens were similar

to the 4-ft specimens except for the following

details. A strip of perforated hanger iron was

fastened along the top and bottom ends of the

planks by %-in. roofing nails spaced about 3K

in. Three pieces of box strapping were fas- tened to the planks, one horizontally at
midheight and the other two diagonally between the corners of the specimen. In addition, on specimens R2 and R3 there was a shorter piece of strapping placed diagonally

from midheight at one edge to midwidth at the

top of specimen R2 and to midwidth at the

bottom of RS. The floor plate and top plate were fastened to each plank by two lOd common

nails. The wallboard was two pieces of plywood, 7 ft lOK in. by 4 ft 0 in., having a vertical

joint at midwidth and fastened in the same way

as the wallboard of the 4-ft specimens by 3d

lath nails, spaced 6 to 10 in. along the top and

bottom edges and about 12 in. along the vertical edges. The grain of the outer plies was

vertical.

{h) Comments

Planks are available in soft woods—fir, pine, spruce, and hemlock—and in sizes ranging

from IK to 3 in. in thicloiess, and from 3% to 9K in. in width.

In a house of this construction the walls are supported by a masonry foundation wall. A

3- by 8-in. dressed-wood sill of a dense, durable

species is bolted flatwise to the foundation with

the outer edge projecting about Yi in. In the

upper surface of the sill there is a saw kerf,

Yif, in. wide by K in. deep. A continuous steel spline Ke by 1 in. is inserted in this slot and

serves to aline the wall planks as they are placed

in position. There are similar saw kerfs in

both ends of the wall planks along the center

line of the wall. Either the outer joist of the floor or a ranger,

2 by 4 in., is spiked edgewise to the sill at a distance of one-half the thickness of the wall

inside the saw kerf. The sill and ranger are mopped with a waterproof asphalt-bitumen

compound. Five or six planks are assembled

and drawn together by boat clamps, set in place,

and spiked to either the floor joist or the ranger. The sill projects about 1 in. beyond the out- ward-projecting planks.

Before the sill is laid, the upper edge is chamfered at 45° to drip the faces of the

outward-projecting planks. After the planks

are in place, the sill between the outer planks

is beveled at 30° to drip the faces of the recessed

planks.

The top plate may be softwood, 2 by 4 in., but

preferably hardwood, 1}< by 5 in., for better

alinement and more secure nailing. The plate

is connected to the wall planks by a steel spline

which fits into saw kerfs in the top of the planks

and in the lower surface of the plate, and is fastened by nails passing through the plate into

the planks.

Door and window frames are planks matched

to fit the wall planks. Diagonal bracing in the

walls may be provided by special shear fasteners

in the vertical joints between planks, by heavy

box strapping fastened diagonally to the inside

surface of the planks, or by diagonal furring for lath and plaster or other finisliing.

Instead of assembling the planks on the building site, prefabricated units may be assembled

in a shop, each consisting of eight or more primecoated planks. Some of the advantages of pre- fabricated units are more rapid erection and

lower cost. The wall planks may serve as outside face as well as structural members, and two or three coats of paint complete the outside finish; although, if desired, conventional finishes, such

as drop siding, lap siding, or shingles, may be

readily applied. Lath and plaster or wallboard may be applied for inside finish. The

spaces formed by alternate planks serve as chases for conduit and piping and, if closed by

the interior and exterior finishes, decrease the

heat transmission through the wall. For a two-story house, about one-fourth of the planks are full height. Shorter planks are placed above or below openings and may be

spliced if they extend the full height.

2. Compressive Load

Wall specimen CB~C1 xmder compressive

load is shown in figure 7. The results for wall

specimens CB-Cl, C2, and C3 are shown in table 4 and in figures 8 and 9. The lateral deflections shown in figure 9 were

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

face (positive deflection) and to the left for deflections toward the inside face (negative

deflection).

Although the load was eccentric toward the

inside face, specimens Cl and C2 deflected

initially toward the inside face, whereas speci-

[8]
men CS deflected toward the outside face. As

the load was mcreased, the deflection of spec- imen Cl did not change appreciably and at the maximum load it was zero. The deflection

of specimen C2 decreased to zero and then

increased slightly toward the outside face up to the maximum load. Specimen 03 deflected

toward the outside face throughout the test. The lateral deflection toward the inside face was

probably due to the stiffness of the inside face

ofl'setting the efl'ect of the eccentric loading.

The change in direction of the deflections of

Table 4.Structural properties, wall CB

[Weight, 5.24 lb/ft2]

Load Load applied

Speci- men

desig- nation

Fail- ure of loaded

height

of drop

Fail- ure of opposite face, height

of drop

Maxi- mum

height

of drop

Maxi- mum

load

a no ///

iO. 00 10.00

9. 09 Compressive.

Transvers6

Do

Upper end, one- third the

thickness (0.83

, in.) from the

inside surface

of the planks

(see section

I ni).

Average

ClCS

ft /; ft

9. 70

Inside face; span,

7 ft fi in.

Average.

I Tl

\ n

[ T3

Ibim

500

546 479

508

Outside face; span, 7 ft 6 in.

Average.

Inside face. .

I n

\ T5

[ TO

546

582

538

Concentrated

Do

555

\ PS

[ PS

lb 700 650

510 Average 620

Outside face

Average

f nPB

I pr,

b 1, 000

b 1, 000

b

1, 000

Impact _

b 1. 000

Inside face; span,

7 ft 0 in.

Average

\ m

[ IS

i")

(-=) (")

(")

(") (')

h 10.0

blO. 0

b 10.0

Do

(=) (=) blO.O Outside face; span, 7 ft 6 in.

Average

\ IS

I 16

7.0

(=)7.0

(=)

(«)

{")

b 10.0

b 10.0

•> 10.0

Racking .

(") b 10.0

Near upper end.

Average

1 Rl

[ RS

•^Kipslft

0. 454 .404

.360

.406

"Akip is 1,000 lb.

b Test discontinued. Specimen did not fail.

« Face did not fail.

specimens Cl and 02 indicated buckling of tlic inside face. Each of the specimens failed by cnisliing of the inside edge of tbe top plate locally at the

ends of the planks, causing tlie top plate to rotate and allowing the specimens to push out

under load without breaking the phmks. In addition, on specimen 01 the plywood wall- board separated from the planks near the top

plate by pulling the nails from the planks; in specimen 02 the top plate split; and in specimen

03 the top plate pulled the nails from the planks.

3. Transverse Load

The results under transverse load are shown

in table 4 and in flgure 10 for wall specimens

OB-Tl, T2, and TS, loaded on the inside face,

and in figure 11 for wall specimens 0B~T4, T5,

and T6, loaded on the outside face. In specimen Tl at a load of 400 Ib/ft^ two

planks ruptured at or between the loading

rollers, and at the maximum load the specimen

failed by rupture of two more planks between

the loading rollers. Specimen T2 failed at maximum load by rupture of all the planks at

a loading roller. In specimen T3 at a load of

450 Ib/ft^ one plank ruptured between the

loading rollers and at the maximum load the

specimen failed by rupture near midspan of three more planks. The plywood wallboarti of the specimens was undamaged, but on specimeii

Tl it had separated from the planks.

At the maximum loads specimens T4, T5,

and T6 failed by rupture of all oi- all but one of the planks at or between the loading rollers. The plywood wallboard was undamaged but

separated from the planks at the ruptures and

at the ends of the specimens by pulling the nails

from the planks.

4. Concentrated Load

The results of the concentrated-load tests are shown in table 4 and in figure 12 for wall speci- mens OB-Pl, P2, and P3, loaded on the mside

face, and in figure 13 for wall specimens 0B~P4,

P5, and P6, loaded on the outside face. The concentrated loads were applied to the

inside face of specimens PI, P2, and P3 on the

plywood wallboard over the cavity between

the wallboard and a projectmg plank, about 2

[9]
CB-Il, 12, and IS, loaded on the in- side face, and in figure 15 for wall

specimens CB-I4, 15, and 16, loaded on the outside face.

10

Co" o

6

•I

rOO-n —

»

1

—00

/

/

/ —

c

—0-

/

/

T

V CB

FiGXJRE 7. —Wall specimen CB~C1 under compressive load.

ft from one end. Each of the specimens failed

by punching of the disk through the wallboard.

The concentrated loads were applied to the

outside face of specimens P4, P6, and P6 on a plank, about 2^ ft from the top end. The

indentations after a load of 1,000 lb had been

applied were 0.047, 0.111, and 0.055 in. in specimens P4, P6, and P6, respectively, and no

other effect was observed.

5. Impact Load

The residts of the impact test are shown in table 4 and in figure 14 for wall specimens

0 Q.I Q.2 0.5

shorfen/no/ in. Figure 8.

Compressive load on wall CB.

Ldiid-sliDitening (open circles) and load-set (solid circles) ivMill^ fur specimens CB-Cl, C2, and CS. The load u ;is applied one-third the thickness (0,83 in.) from the

inside surface of the planks. The loads are in kips

per foot of actual width of specimen.

The impact loads were applied to the center of the inside face of speci- mens II , 12, and IS, the sandbag strik- ing the center batten and the wallboard. At drops of 3, 5, and 10 ft for specimens II , 12, and IS, respectively,

there was noticeable opening of the

joint between the center planks where the sandbag struck. In addition, in specimen 12 at a drop of 7.5 ft the floor plate split at the edge of the specimen and the filler strip along the edge

separated from the plank. The sets after a drop of 10 ft were 0.177, 0.096, and 0.114 in. for specimens II, 12, and IS, respectively, and

no other effect was observed.

The impact loads were applied to the center

of the outside face of specimens 14, 15, and 16,

the sandbag striking the planks. In specimen

14 at a drop of 4.5 ft there was noticeable opening of the joint between the two center planks

[10]
10

^ 8

I 2

0.

—«c —CI

ND—

1

3 —

o

yo — 1 o«

1 —oo

1 1

1

CB

-OJ 0 0.2 0.4 0.6

h/ercf/ def/ecfion in. Figure 9.

Compressive load on wall CB.

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

one-third the thickness (0.83 in.) from the inside surface of the planks. The loads are in kips per foot of actual width of specimen. The deflec- tions and sets are for a gage length of 7 ft 10 in., the gage length of the

deflectometers.

^1

500

400

500

200

100

-\J

r\

/

—

Iw

1

»

iw\

w

1n

!/

CS-4 0 2 4 6

def/ecfion In. Figure 11.—Transverse load on wall CB, load applied

to outside face.

Load-deflection (open circles) and load-set (solid circles) results for specimens CB-Ti, T6, and T6 on the span 7 ft 6 in.

^ 4^0

I 300

|i 200

I m

-•— o

1•

1•

1»

1»

1n

0 2 4 6

def/ecfion in. Figure 10.—Transuerse load on wall CB, load applied

to inside face.

Load-deflection fopen circles) and load-set (solid circles) results for speci- mens CB-Tl, T2, and TS on the span 7 ft 6 in.

600

500

I

I

\200

%

m

0

——w

y

» —

\—

'I — Z

e

/

i

—

Ti C8-I 0 0.02 0.04 0.D3

indeniafion in.

Concentrated load on wall CB, load applied

to inside face. Figure 12

Load-indentation results for specimens CB-Pl, PS, and PS.

11
im

800

^ 600

c

0;O

s

200

< 1

•

•4 1 —

•VL

—

—

L

1

I

I

/»

1 CB-4

io

0 0.04 0.08 0.12 inden/afion in. Figure 13.

Concentrated load on wall CB, load applied

to outside face.

Load-indentation results for specimens CB-P4, P6, and P6.

10

8

1

1•

1»

1»

1

1

(

»

>

>—

1

'0/23

def/ecf/on in.

Fi GURE 14.Impact load on wall CB, load applied to inside face.

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

circles) results for specimens CB-Il, 12, and IS on the span 7 ft 6 in.

8

-J:

1

1M -cfo1

1

1

(»

1

1•

1• 1 1

1•

1

1•

1D CB-4 '0/25

def/ec/ion in. Figure 15.

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

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

circles) results for specimens CB-I4, 15. and 16 on the span 7 ft fi in.

near midspan, and at a drop of 7 ft the planks

separated at the matched joint, causing failure of the outside face. At a drop of 9 ft the

battens started to separate from the plywood

wallboard by pidling the nails from the planks

at one edge of the specimen. At the 10-ft drop

the floor plate and top plate separated from the

planks, and the floor plate split. The set after a drop of 10 ft was 0.132 in. In specimen 16

at a drop of 5.5 ft the top plate split, and at the

6.5-ft drop there was noticeable displacement

between the two center planks at midspan.

The set after a drop of 10 ft was 0.042 in. In

specimen 16 at a drop of 7 ft the joint between

the two center planks opened at midspan,

causing failure of the outside face. At a drop

of 8.5 ft the edge filler strip separated from the

plank, and at a drop of 9.5 ft the edge batten

also separated. The set after a drop of 10 ft was 0.124 in.

6. Racking Load

Wall specimen CB-R2 under racking load is shown in figure 16. The results for wall speci- mens CB-Rl , R2, and R3 are shown in table 4

and in figure 17.

[12]
The load was applied to the ed<;e of the

planlv at one upper coi'iier of the specimen and

the stop was in contact with the edge of the

plank at the diagonally opposite corner. In

iil)le vertical (hs])lacenient of the plywood walll)uar(l ])ajiels at the joint in the wallboard

Under a load of 0.350 kip/ft there was noticeable vertical displacement at all tlic joints

Figure 16. —Wall specimen CB-R2 under racking load.

specimen Rl at a load of 0.312 kip/ft the plywood wallboard separated from the loaded edge

of the specimen, pulling the nails from the

plank and the filler strip. There was noticebetween the planks, and at the maximum load

the specimens failed by continued slipping of

the planks at the joints. Both plywood wallboard panels had pulled the nails from the

[13]
planks, and the top plate had bowed upward

at midwidth.

In specimens R2 and R3 at loads of 0.240

and 0.200 kip /ft, respectively, there was noticeable vertical displacement at the joint in the

0.4

0.2

^ 0.1

•

•

0

-/-

• D

( )

1

O

7 —oo

(D

o

&muo

CIO

0.4 0.8

deformah'on

Figure 17.

1.2

in./Sff

Racking load on wall CB.

Load-deformation (open circles) and load-set (solid circles) results for specimens CB-Rl , R2, and -R3. The loads are in kips per foot of actual width of specimen.

wallboard; and at loads of 0.320 and 0.360

kip /ft respectively, the wallboard separated

from the loaded edge of the specimens. At the

maximum loads each of the specimens failed

by continued slipping of the planks at the joints.

The wallboard had pulled the nails from the

planks, and the top plate had bowed upward at midwidth. Also the floor plate of specimen R3

had separated from the planks, leaving the

nails in the planks.

VI. PARTITION CO

1. Sponsok's Statement

(a) Description

Partition CC was a wood-plank construction

having plywood wallboard on both faces. It was similar to wall CB except that the planks were Iji by 5% in., not 1% by 8^%2 in.; they projected in., not % in.; and the edges were

tongued and grooved, not edge-matched. Also,

both faces were plywood wallboard, not one

face.The price in Washington, D. C, as of July

1937, was $0.40/ftl

The plank partition specimens shown in figure 18, were 8 ft 2 in. high, 4 ft ^ in. wide,

and 1% in. thick. Each specimen consisted of

nine tongue-and-grooved planks. A, so assembled that alternate planks projected Y4 in. The

planks were fastened to a floor plate, B, and a top plate, C, by splines. The faces consisted

of plywood wallboard, D. The floor plate, top

plate, and edges of the specimens were covered

Figure 18.Partition specimen CC.

A, planks; B, floor plate; C, top plate; JD, plywood wallboard.

with one coat of lead-and-oil paint. The faces were covered with one coat of shellac varnish.

Both paint and shellac were applied with a

brush.

Planks.—The planks. A, were spruce, Iji by

5% in., 7 ft 10^ ^6 in- long. The edges of each

plank were tongued and grooved on a line % in. from midthickness, and the planks were assem-

[14]
bled as shown in figure 19. After assembly the

planks were held by box strapping fastened to both faces. The strapping consisted of two

horizontal strips, one near the bottom, the other near the top, and one strip applied diagonally

Figure 19.

Details of partition specimen CC.

A, planks; B, floor plate; C, top plate; D, plywood wallboaid; E, filler strip.

from a lower to an upper corner, as shown in figure 2. The strapping was fastened to each

projecting plank by two nails—either 3d lath

nails or %-in. or 1-in. roofing nails. After as- sembling the planks, the upper and lower ends

of the assembled unit were grooved % by Yo in. at midthiclmess.

Floor plate.—The floor plate, B, was spruce, 1% by in., 4 ft 1% in. long, having by

Yi-in. recesses at two edges. The ends were

parallel and beveled 1 in. The plate was con- nected to the planks by five steel splines spaced

along a lYm- by Yi-in. groove in the plate and

fitted into the groove in the planks.

Top plate.—The top plate, C, was spruce, 1%

by IY4 in., 4 ft in. long, having Y2- by ^in.

recesses at two edges. The ends were parallel

and beveled 1 in. Tlie plate was connected to the ])lanks by five splines si)aced along a Xe- by y^-'m. groove in the plate and fitted into the

groove in the ])liiJiks. Plywood wallboard.- -The wallboa/'d, D, was

}^-in. Douglas-fir plywood, 8 ft 0 in. })y 4 ft 0 in. The edges of the wallboard fitted into

the recesses in the floor plate and top plate,

and were fastened by 3d lath nails spaced 5 in., driven through the wall board into the plates.

The wallboard was fastened to the planks by

blind fasteners, spaced 16 in. along both

verti<'al edges and along the vertical center line of the specimen. On one side of the specimen

each fastener was attached by a 3d lath nail

directly to the planks, on the other side to the

filler strips. The grain of the outer plies was

vertical.

Filler strips.—The filler strips, E, were Y4 by

IY2 in., 7 ft IQi^ie in. long. There were three

strips on one side of the specimen, fastened to the recessed planks at the edges and at midwidth by 3d lath nails.

(6) Comments

Partition planks are available in soft woorls,

such as fix, pine, spruce, and hemlock; and in sizes ranging from l^e to 1% in. thickness and

from 3Yi to 9^ in. in width. In a house the

ends of the planks rest on a wood floor plate

fastened to the subfloor and fitted with a steel spline which holds the planks in place. A

wood top plate similar to the floor plate and

nailed either to the ceiling joists or to the

second-storj" floor joists fastens the planks at the top.

The partition may be used wathout additional

finishes other than paint or varnish. However,

other finishes, such as lath and plaster or an_y kind of wallboard, may readilj^ be applied to the planks.

2. Concentrated Lo.\d

Partition specimen CC~P1 under concentrated load is shown in figure 20. The results

for partition specimens CC-Pl, P2 and P3 are shown in table 5 and in figure 21. The concentrated loads were applied to ojie

face of specimens PI, P2, and PS on the wallboard over the cavity between the wallboard

[15]
Table 5.

Structural properties, partition CC

[Weight, 4.20 Ib/ft2]

Load Load applied Specimen

desig- nation

Maximum

height

of drop Maximum

load

Concentrated.

Impact

One face \P1 \P2

ft lb

» 1, 000

» 1, 000

» 1, 000

Averaee

[PS

» 1, 000 One face; span, 7

ft 6 in

(/; » 10.0

» 10.0

" 10.0

\is

Average

[is

a 10.0

» Test discontinued. Specimen did not fail.

and 0.000 in. for specimens II, 12, and IS,

respectively, and both plywood-wallboard faces were separated from the planks. The zero set of specimen 13 was due to th springing upward of the loose wallboard.

VII. PARTITION CD

1. Sponsor's Statement

(a) Description

Partition CD was a wood-frame construction

having plywood wallboard on both faces and

Figure I'm ii/io/i sjicvimen CC-Pl unckr conccnirdti <l IikkI.

and a plank, about 2 ft from one end. The

indentations after a load of 1,000 lb had been

applied were 0.062, 0.080, and 0.082 in. for specimens PI, P2, and P3, respectively, and no

other efi'ect was observed.

3. Impact Load

The results of the impact tests for partition

specimens CG-Il, 12, and 13 are shown in table 5 and in figure 22. The impact loads were applied to one face of the specimens, the sandbag striking the plywood wallboard. At drops of 4, 5, and 4 ft for specimens II, 12, and 13, respectively, the wallboard started to separate from the planks.

The sets after a drop of 10 ft were 0.180, 0.145,

was similar to partition CC except that the

structural members were studs and not planks.

The price in Washington, D. C, as of July

1937, was $0.285/ft^

The frame partition specimens, shown in figure 23, were 8 ft 2 in. high, 4 ft 0 in. wide,

and 2 in. thick. Each specimen consisted of a wood frame to which the faces were fastened.

The frame consisted of three full-sized studs,

A, and two half-sized studs, B, fastened to a

fioor plate, C, and a top plate, D. The faces

coiisisted of plywood wallboard, E. The floor

plate, top plate, and edges of the specimen were

covered with one coat of lead-and-oil paint.

The faces were covered with one coat of shellac

varnish. Both paint and shellac were applied

with a brush.

[16]
mo

=8 800

^ 600

^ 400

O

«

i\ »

—

( » /

J-

-m——

f —

/j

—

—

—

9 /—•-

» —

/

f —

• /

< —•- 7—

—

cc

0 0.02 OM 0.06

indenfafion. in. Figure 21.

Concenfrated load on partition CC.

Load-indentation results for specimens CC-Pl, P2, and PS.

0 / ?

def/ecHon in. Figure 22.

Impact load on partition CC.

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

circles) results for specimens CC~I1, IB, and IS on the span 7 ft (i in.

Studs.—The full-sized studs, A, were spruce, 1% by 1% in., 7 ft 11% in. long, with %- by

Yi-'m. recesses in two edges, as shown in figure

24. They were spaced 1 ft 0 iji. on centers. The half-sized studs, B, were spruce, 2>'^2 by 1% in., 7 ft 11% in. long, with a %- by

Yi-in. recess in one edge and were at the edges

of the specimen.

Floor plate.—The floor plate, G, was spruce, 1% by 2^Yi6 ill., 4 ft. 1 in. lojig, with two

Figure 23.

Partition specimen CD.

A, full-sized stud; B, half-sized stud; C, floor plate; D, top plate; E, ply- wood wallboard.

grooves on the upper surface. The ends were

parallel and beveled 1 in. The center stud was fastened to the floor plate by one 8d com- mon nail driven through the floor plate into

the stud. Each of the two outer full-sized studs was fastened to the floor plate by two

pieces of box strapping which passed through

two /4-in. diam holes in the floor plate, and

were fastened to each edge of the stud by two

3d lath nails. Top plate. —The top plate, D, was spruce, 1 by 2^Yl5 in., 4 ft 1 in. long, with two grooves on

[17]
the lower surface. The ends were parallel and

beveled 1 in. The top plate was fastened to the center stud by one 6d common nail driven

through the top plate into the stud, and to the

two outer full-sized studs by a piece of box

Figure 24.

Details of partition specimen CD.

A, full-sized stud; B, half-sized stud; C, floor plate; D, top plate; E, ply- wood wallboard; F, batten.

strapping passing through two %-in. diam holes

in the top plate. The box strapping was

fastened to each edge of the stud by two 3d

lath naUs. Plywood wallboard.—The wallboard, E, was

Yi-in. Douglas-fir plywood, 8 ft )i in. high and

either 1 ft 11% in. or 11% in. wide. The boards

fitted into the grooves in the floor plate and

top plate and into the recesses in the full-sized studs and half-sized studs. One face consisted of two of the wide pieces of wallboard

with a vertical joint on the center stud. The

other face consisted of one of the wide pieces

and two of the narrow pieces with vertical

joints on the outer full-sized studs. The wallboard was fastened to the recesses in the fullsized studs and to both sides of the half-sized

studs by 3d lath nails, spaced about 5 in., and

to the other side of the full-sized studs by blind

fasteners, spaced about 12 in. Each fastener was attached to the stud by a 3d lath nail

driven through the slot in the fastener. The

grain of the outer plies of the wallboard was

vertical. Battens.—The battens, F (astragal molding), were % by 1% in., 7 ft 11% in. long, with the

exposed face cut to an 0-gee-and-fillet mold.

They were placed at the joints between the

plywood wallboard and the full-sized studs, over the recessed edges of the studs, and

fastened with 4d box nails, spaced 10 in.

(6) Comments

Construction CD is a nonlood-bearing partition, such as a closet partition. It is designed

for ease in assembly, and can be taken apart and

reassembled if a change of location is desired.

The floor plate and top plate are fastened to the floor and ceiling, respectively, and the

plywood wallboard and studs are placed in

position alternately.

2. Concentrated Load

The results of the concentrated -load tests on

partition specimens CD-PI, P2, and P3 are shown in table 6 and in figure 25.

Table 6.

Structural properties, partition CD

[Weight, 2.10 Ib/ft^]

Load Load applied

Speci- men

desig nation

Fail- ure of loaded

face, height

of drop

Fail- ure of opposite face, height

of drop

Maxi- mum

height

of drop

Maxi- mum

load

Concentrated.

Impact .

One face. _ . .

(\ P2

\ PS

n n ft lb 550 450

440 Average 480 One face; span, 7ft Bin \ 1%

I IS

4.5 4.5

4.5

4.5

4.0

4.0

7.5

7.5

7.0 Average 4.5 4.2 7.3

The concentrated loads were applied to the

plywood wallboard midway between full-sized studs and from 2 to 2}^ ft from one end of the

specimen. At the maximum load each of the

[18]
m

400

^300

I

•^/oo

0

—

•

—

f

>

/

/

I

C5

0 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 indenfafion in. Figure 25.

Concentrated load on partition CD.

Load-indentation results for specimens CD-PI, Pg, and P3.

specimens failed by punching of the disk through the wallboard.

3. Impact Load

Partition specimen CD-13 during the impact test is shown in figure 26. The results for partition specimens CD-I] , 12, and

IS are shown in table 6 and in

figure 27. The impact loads were applied

to one face of the specimens, the

sandbag striking the center bat- ten and the wallboard. On specimen II at a drop of 3.5 ft the

plywood wallboard of the face

struck separated from the stud

under the center batten. After

the 4-ft drop tlie battens on the

opposite face were loose, and at the 4.5-ft drop both faces failed by complete separation of the

wallboard from the studs and

opening of the joints under the

battens. At a drop of 6.5 ft two

full-sized studs and one half-sized

stud ruptured and the floor plate

and the top pinto split. At the maximum drop

the remaining studs ruptured and the specimen

broke in two along the center stud. On speci- mens 12 and IS at drops of 4 ft the face not

struck failed by opening of the joint under one

batten, and at drops of 4.5 ft the face struck

failed by openuig of the joint under the center

batten. In specimen 12 at a drop of 5 ft, the center stud ruptured, at a drop of 5.5 ft one

outer full-sized stud ruptured, and at the

maximum drop the specimen broke in two and

the top plate separated from the studs. In specimen 13 at a drop of 5.5 ft the center stud

ruptured, at a drop of 6 ft the two outer full- sized studs ruptured, and at the maximum drop

the specimen broke in two.

VIII. FLOOR CE

1. Sponsor's Statement

(a) Description

Floor CE was a wood plank-and-joist construction having wood flooring on the upper face.

Figure 26.

Partition specimen CD-IS during ivi-pact test. [19]
The price of this construction in Washington,

D. C, as of July 1937, was $0.385/ftl

The floor specimens, shown in figure 28, were

12 ft 6 in. long, 4 ft 0 in. wide, and Q%i in. deep.

Each specimen consisted of six specially edge- —•

•—•

/

-# —#1 /

T

T

t—

1

<> •

1•

1 t CD

FiGUKE 27.

2 4 6

deflecfion in. -Impact load on partition CD.

Height of drop-deflection (open circles) and Iieight of drop-set (solid

circles) results for specimens CD-U, 12, and 13 on the span 7 ft 6 in.

matched planks, A, two full-sized joists, B, two

half-sized joists, C, and end members, D. The

upper face consisted of flooring, E. The underside and the ends of the specimen were covered with one coat of lead-and-oil paint applied

with a brush.

Planks.—The planks, A, were spruce, 1% by

7%6 in. (nominal 2 by 8 in), 12 ft 6 in. long. One

edge of the plank was recessed % by % in., and

the opposite edge was matched, as shown in figure 29.

Joists.—The full-sized joists, B, were spruce, 1% by 5% in. (nominal 2 by 6 in.), 12 ft 6 in. long,

grooved % by % in. on two sides, % in. below the

edge. The projecting edge of each plank fitted into the groove in the adjacent joist. Sixpenny

box naUs, spaced 1 to 2 ft, were driven horizontally through the joist at the groove into the

projecting edge of the plank on one side. In some specimens the planks on both sides of a

joist were fastened to the joist by corrugated

fasteners spaced about 1 ft 6 in. driven from

the upper surface of the specimen. The projecting edges of adjacent planks matched and

were joined by corrugated fasteners spaced

about 1 ft 6 in., crossing the joint and driven

from the under side. The half-sized joists, C, were spruce, by

5% in. (nominal 1 by 6 in.), 12 ft 6 in. long,

grooved % by % in. on one side, % in. below the

upper edge. The projecting edge of the outer plank fitted into the groove in the half-sized

joist and was fastened by 6d box nails, 6d com- mon nails, l}^-in. plasterboard nails, or 6d

shingle nails. The nails were spaced from 1 to 2 ft and were driven through the half-sized

joists into the plank. A strip of perforated

hanger iron was fastened along the ends of the

planks and extended around the corners of the

specimen about 1 in., as shown in figure 28. It was fastened to the half-sized joists and to each

plank by two iK-in. plasterboard nails. End members.—The end members, D, were

spruce, 1% by 3% in. (nominal 2 by 4 in.), 1 ft 2% in. long, grooved 2}^ by ji in. on one side. The

members were inserted between joists at the

ends of the specimen and were fastened to the

planks by from three to five 6d common nails or lOd common nails toenailed from the groove

into the planks. The outer end members were

fastened to the half-sized joists by strips of box

strapping, about 4 in. long, bent around the

bottom edge of the half-sized joist and fastened

to the half-sized joist and the end member by

either a 3d lath nail or a /4-in. roofing nail. Flooring.—The flooring, E, was shortleaf pine

and consisted of 43 tongued-and-grooved lines of flooring, by S}i in. The strips of flooring were blind-fastened to the planks by either 6d

shingle nails or 6d cut flooring nails. There

were from four to six nails to each line spaced

along its length.

(b) Comments

Planks and joists are available in soft woods

and in thicknesses ranging from 1 )^ to 3 in. In a house of this construction the first-story floor

joists rest on the foundation plate and are fastened by nails to the plate and to the wall

planks. Second-story joists rest on a wood

ribbon nailed to the wall planks. The ends of the joists are notched at the lower edge and

[20]
extend in against the recessed wall planks,

where they are nailed. If the joists rest on an

interior support, the ends of abutting joists are

spliced and fastened by nails or bolts.

Figure 28.

Floor specimen CE.

A, planks; B, full-sized joists; C, half-sized joists; D, end members; E, flooring

135 Ib/ft^ both half-sized joists split at middepth along the entire length of tJic specimen.

At a load of 150 Ib/lV one full-sized joist ruptured under both loading rollers, and at 175 Ib/ft^ the other full-sized

joist split the entire length of

the specimen along the groove

in the joist. At the maximum

load the full-sized joist split and

four planks ruptured between

the loading rollers. In specimen rs at a load of 175 Ib/ft^ the

lialf-sized joists ruptured at midspan, at a load of 200 Ib/ft^ both inner joists ruptured at or between the loading rollers, and

at the maximum load two planks

ruptured at or between the loading rollers. In aU specimens

the flooring was undamaged,

though in specimen Tl it had

separated noticeably from the

planks.

Finish floors of various kinds

may readily be applied to the floor planks. The underside of the floor may be finished with paint, wallboard, or lath and plaster.

This floor construction also is intended for attic floors and roofs

if the distance between supports

does not exceed 13 ft.

2. Transverse Load

Floor specimen CE-T2 under

transverse load is shown in figure

30. The residts for floor speci- mens CE~T1, T2, and T3 are shown in table 7 and in figure 31. In specimen Tl at a load of 177 Ib/ft^ the half-sized joists

split at middepth both between

the loading rollers and from one

end to midspan. At a load of

211 VojW the two inner joists

ruptured at knots near midspan, and at the

maximum load they ruptured completely. As

the deflection increased all the planks ruptured at midspan. In specimen T2 at a load of

FiGURK 29.Details oj floor specimen CE.

A, planks; B, full-sized joist; C, half-sized joist; D, end member; E, flooring.

3. Concentrated Load

The results for floor specimens CE-Pl, P2,

and PS under concentrated load are shown in

table 7 and in flgure 32.

[21]
I' lGUitE 30.

Floor speriiiicn L l'^ 1'..' imdcr transrcrtie load.

FiGUHE 31.—Transverse load on floor CE.

' Figure 32. — Concentrated load on floor CE.

Load-defleclion (open circles) and load-set (solid circles) results for specimen CE-Tl, T2, and T3 on the span 12 ft 0 in. Load-indentation results for specimens CE-Pl, PZ, and PS. [22]
Table 7.

Structural propertied!, Jloor CE

[Weight, 7.80 lb/ft*]

Load Load applied Specimen

desig- nation

Maximum

height

of drop Maximum

load

Transverse

Concentrated.

Impact - -

/Upper face; span,

1 12 ft 0 in.

Average.. . .

( Tl

\ T2

[ TS

ft 214 237 235

229

Upper face..

Average . ..

I PS

lb.

^ 1, 000

» 1, 000

" 1, 000

« 1, 000

/Upper face; span,

I 12 ft 0 in.

Average

\ u

[ IS

' 10.0

» 10,0

« 10.0

» 10.0

» Test discontinued. Specimens did not fail. The concentrated loads were applied between fuU-sized joists at the corner of an end

joint in the flooring either 6 ft or 2 ft from one

end of the specimen. The indentations after a

load of 1,000 lb had been applied were 0.024,

0.020, and 0.061 in. for specimens PI, P2, and

P3, respectively, and no other eft'ect was

observed.

4. Impact Load

The results for floor specimens CE-Il, 12,

and 13 under impact load are shown in table 7 and in figure 33. The impact loads were applied to the upper

face, the sandbag striking the flooring between

the fuU-sized joists. The sets after a drop of

10 ft were 0.034, 0.102, and 0.065 in. for

specimens II, 12, and 13 respectively, and no

other effect was observed.

IX. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

BY SPONSOR

Tlu-ee houses have been built embodying

these constructions except that in one the floor planks were tongued and grooved.

The roof construction is simflar to the floor construction for both flat or sloping roofs. If the roof is covered with tiles or shingles, they

are laid on 1-in. furring strips. For sloping

roofs the rafters extend beyond the wall line and are notched to flt the top plate. A ridge

rafter is not required; the ends of the planks

are mitered and nailed. Ceilings may be of

conventional constiniction

defleciion in. Figure 33.

Impact load on jloor CE.

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

circles) results for specimens CE-Il, 12, and IS on the span 12 ft 0 in.

The description and drawings of the speci- mens were prepared by E. J. Scliell, G. W.

Shaw, and T. J. Hanley of the Bureau's

Building Practice and Specifications Section,

under the supervision of V. B. Plielan.

The structural properties were determined

by the Engineering Mechanics Section, under

the supervision of H. L. Wliittemore and A. H.

Stang, with the assistance of the following

members of the professional staff: F. Cardile,

R. C. Carter, H. Doflar, M. Dubin, A. H.

Easton, A. S. Endler, C. D. Johnson, A. J. Sussman, and L. R. Sweetman.

X. SELECTED REFERENCES

American Builder 60, No. 12, 34-35 (1938). American Lumberman 3133, 35 (1938); 3138, 24-25

(1938). Architectural Forum 69, 80 (1938); 70, 246 (1939). Architectural Record 86, 88, 93 (1939). Washington, August 5, 1939.

o

[23]
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