Reinforcing methods for composite timber frame–fiberboard wall panels

This paper presents different possibilities on how to reinforce timber frame wall panels, which are mainly used as load-carrying capacity elements in the construction of prefabricated timber structures. These walls can be treated as composite elements composed of a timber frame and fiber–plaster boards. As the boards are the weaker part of the system they need to be somehow reinforced in order to assure the resistance and ductility of the elements especially in multi-level buildings located in seismic or windy areas. The aim of this research is to determine the differences in resistance and ductility between elements, reinforced using two different methods. Whilst the first, using additional fiberboards, does not improve the resistance and especially the ductility in the contended sense, it is more convenient for finding a solution when inserting diagonal steel strips, which are fixed to the timber frame.