Corrugated Shearwall

Abstract

A prefabricated shearwall including a central diaphragm having a height generally defined by top and bottom edges, and a width generally defined by a pair of end sections. The diaphragm further includes at least one corrugation extending in the height direction at least partially between the top and bottom edges. The corrugation increases the ductility and ability of the shearwall to withstand lateral forces such as those generated in earthquakes, high winds, floods and snow loads.

1 . A shearwall, comprising:
 a central diaphragm, including:
 a top edge and a bottom edge generally defining a height of said central diaphragm, 
 first and second ends, extending between the top and bottom edges, generally defining a width of said central diaphragm, and 
 a corrugated section extending partially between said top edge and said bottom edge in between said first and second ends, said corrugated section forming at least one corrugation, said at least one corrugation extending from said bottom edge and terminating at a position between said bottom edge and said top edge. 
   
     
     
         2 . A shearwall for a wall of a building, comprising:
 a central diaphragm, including
 a top edge and a bottom edge generally defining a height of said central diaphragm, 
 first and second ends, extending between the top and bottom edges, generally defining a width of said central diaphragm, said height being at least twice as long as said width, 
 a corrugated section extending at least partially between said top edge and said bottom edge in between said first and second ends, said corrugated section forming at least one corrugation; and 
 at least one embossment. 
   
     
     
         3 . A shearwall for location within a wall of a building, comprising:
 a central diaphragm, including
 a top edge and a bottom edge generally defining a height of said central diaphragm, 
 first and second ends, extending between the top and bottom edges, generally defining a width of said central diaphragm, 
 a corrugated section extending at least partially between said top edge and said bottom edge in between said first and second ends, said corrugated section forming at least one corrugation; and 
 at least one stiffening lip. 
   
     
     
         4 . A shearwall, comprising
 a central diaphragm having a height, width and depth, each being perpendicular to each other, and a corrugation extending in the direction of said height of said central diaphragm;   first and second wooden chords affixed to said central diaphragm at opposed edges of said central diaphragm and extending in the direction of said height of said central diaphragm;   a sill plate affixed to a bottom of the shearwall, said sill plate having a footprint at least as large as said central diaphragm and said first and second chords together; and   a channel in which said central diaphragm resides.   
     
     
         5 . A shearwall as recited in  claim 4 , said sill plate having a width greater than that of said channel. 
     
     
         6 . A shearwall for a wall of a building comprising:
 a central diaphragm having a top edge and a bottom edge defining a height of said central diaphragm, first and second end sections defining a width of the central diaphragm, and a front plane and a rear plane defining a depth of said central diaphragm, said central diaphragm including:
 a pair of rear planar sections extending at least part way between said top and bottom edges and being adjacent, respectively, to said first and second end sections, said pair of rear planar sections having a surface residing generally in said rear plane, 
 a pair of angled sections extending at least part way between said top and bottom edges and being adjacent, respectively, to said pair of rear planar sections, said pair of angled sections extending from said rear plane toward said front plane and angling toward each other, 
 a front planar section extending at least part way between said top and bottom edges and being adjacent said pair of angled sections, said front planar section having a surface residing generally in said front plane; and 
   first and second chords affixed one each to said first and second end sections.   
     
     
         7 . A shearwall for use in a building comprising:
 a central diaphragm having a top edge and a bottom edge defining a height of said central diaphragm, first and second end sections defining a width of the central diaphragm, the height being at least twice as long as the width, and a front plane and a rear plane defining a depth of said central diaphragm, said central diaphragm including:
 a pair of rear planar sections extending at least part way between said top and bottom edges and being adjacent, respectively, to said first and second end sections, said pair of rear planar sections having a surface residing generally in said rear plane, 
 a pair of angled sections extending at least part way between said top and bottom edges and being adjacent, respectively, to said pair of rear planar sections, said pair of angled sections extending from said rear plane toward said front plane and angling toward each other, 
 a front planar section extending at least part way between said top and bottom edges and being adjacent said pair of angled sections, said front planar section having a surface residing generally in said front plane; 
   first and second side structural members formed one each on said first and second end sections; and   first and second edge structural members formed one each on said top edge and a bottom edge.   
     
     
         8 . A shearwall as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the first and second structural members are chords. 
     
     
         9 . A shearwall as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the one of the first or second edge structural members sits within a channel. 
     
     
         10 . A shearwall as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the channel is mounted to a sill plate. 
     
     
         11 . A shearwall comprising:
 a first member extending in the length direction between a top and bottom of the shearwall;   a second member extending in the length direction between the top and bottom of the shearwall;   a central diaphragm welded to the first and second members, the central diaphragm having a top edge and a bottom edge defining a height of said central diaphragm, first and second end sections defining a width of the central diaphragm, and a front plane and a rear plane defining a depth of said central diaphragm, said central diaphragm including:
 a pair of rear planar sections extending at least part way between said top and bottom edges and being adjacent, respectively, to said first and second end sections, said pair of rear planar sections having a surface residing generally in said rear plane, 
 a pair of angled sections extending at least part way between said top and bottom edges and being adjacent, respectively, to said pair of rear planar sections, said pair of angled sections extending from said rear plane toward said front plane and angling toward each other, 
 a front planar section extending at least part way between said top and bottom edges and being adjacent said pair of angled sections, said front planar section having a surface residing generally in said front plane. 
   
     
     
         12 . A shearwall, comprising:
 a central diaphragm, including:
 a top edge and a bottom edge generally defining a height of said central diaphragm, 
 first and second ends, extending between the top and bottom edges, generally defining a width of said central diaphragm, and 
 a corrugated section extending partially between said top edge and said bottom edge in between said first and second ends, said corrugated section forming at least one corrugation, said at least one corrugation defining a triangular section having a length defined at the bottom edge between the first and second ends and coming to a point at a position between said bottom edge and said top edge.