Timber-frame house resistant to dynamic loads - analysis of wall panel filled with polyurethane foam

The present study shows the experimentally and numerically determined response of a single timber-frame house wall panel filled with polyurethane (PU) foam under dynamic loads. The harmonic tests were conducted for the following frequencies: 0.5 Hz, 1.0 Hz, 2.0 Hz and 5.0 Hz for various values of the specified displacement. Based on the results of the comparison between the experimental tests and the numerical analyses, the numerical model has been verified to be correct. The model can be used in further analyses so as to investigate the behaviour of the whole building under dynamic loads, including seismic and paraseismic excitations. Using such a numerical model, it will be possible to evaluate the improvement in resistance against dynamic loads for the case when PU foam is used instead of mineral wool.