Model Calibration of Prefabricated Timber Wall Frames Made of Hieronyma Alchorneoides and Gmelina Arborea Timber Using Nail and Screw Fasteners

The object of this research is to develop a model for the calibration of prefabricated timber wall frames (PTWFs) with dimension of 244 by 244 cm (width by height) respectively made of Gmelina arborea Roxb. and Hieronyma alchorneoides Allemão wood and two types of fastener (nails and screws). The PTWFs were submitted to a lateral load test and the vertical and horizontal displacement, maximum load (Pm), strength, stiffness values and mode of failure were determined. Results showed a greater failure percentage in the joint between the central stud and the top and bottom plates for both species and both fastener types used. PTWFs made of H. alchorneoides timber using screws showed greatervalues than PTWFs made of G. arborea for load at the proportionality limit and maximum load. Finally, computational model showed that the highest calibration percentage was achieved in the vertical orientation in PTWFs made using nails in both species. Meanwhile, PTWFs using screws showed calibration percentages of 58.0 and 43.5 %. The highest calibration percentage of 89.9 % was recorded in G. arborea PTWFs joined with nails, whereas the lowest calibration percentage of 69.4 % was recorded in H. alchorneoides PTWFs joined with screws.