Experimental investigation of edge distance effects on uplift response in OSB sheathing-to-framing nailed connections using digital image correlation

Nailed connections between Oriented Strand Board (OSB) structural sheathing panels and wood sill plates are commonly used to form panel wall assemblies for light-framed wood buildings in the United States. The structural integrity of light-framed wood buildings depends on the structural performance of OSB sheathing-to-framing nailed connections. This paper characterizes experimentally the effect of the distance between the OSB panel edge and the nails on the uplift response of sheathing-to-framing nailed connections. Four edge distances were considered. Twelve OSB sheathing-to-framing nailed connections were tested to failure. Analysis of the three-dimensional displacement and strain fields computed using state-of-the-art digital image correlation method was performed to provide insights into the force–displacement response, the yield mechanism, the post-yielding response, the failure mechanisms, and the evolution of stiffness of the connections. Reduction of the nail edge distance resulted in a reduced maximum deformation capacity of the sheathing-to-framing nailed connections without affecting significantly the uplift force capacity. The uplift yield force and yield displacement was effectively independent of the edge distance. It is shown that the yield force can be estimated assuming a nail bearing pressure distribution that is justified based on experimental observations. Effectively no strain localization and stiffness degradation was observed up to an uplift force equal to the uplift design force computed using the American National Design Specification. Initiation of non-uniform strain localization was observed at uplift force larger than the yield force of the connections. Two failure modes that depend on the nail edge distance were observed at the end of the tests.