Timber platform-frame shear walls are characterized by high ductility and diffuse\nenergy dissipation but limited in-plane shear resistance. A novel lightweight constructive system\ncomposed of steel columns braced with oriented strand board (OSB) panels was conceived and\ntested. Preliminary laboratory tests were performed to study the OSB-to-column connections with\nself-drilling screws. Then, the seismic response of a shear wall was determined performing a\nquasi-static cyclic-loading test of a full-scale specimen. Results presented in this work in terms of\nforce-displacement capacity show that this system confers to shear walls high in-plane strength and\nstiffness with good ductility and dissipative capacity. Therefore, the incorporation of steel columns\nwithin OSB bracing panels results in a strong and stiff platform-frame system with high potential for\nlow- and medium-rise buildings in seismic-prone areas.
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