System and method for increasing the shear strength of a framed structure

Abstract

Reinforcing system for retrofitting wall to increase the ductility and resistance to shear forces of a gypsum board wall to a level comparable to plywood-sheathed wall. Fiber-reinforced polymer panel is attached to substantially cover surface of gypsum board to protect it against rupture in earthquake. Reinforcement is enhanced by fiber anchors installed along base of wall and door frames. Connector strips tie together frame members to prevent separation from wall.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pending application Ser. No. 12/459013, filed Jun. 25, 2009, which is itself a C-I-P of application Ser. No. 11/399,282, filed Apr. 6, 2006 and issued Aug. 18, 2009 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,574,840; which is a C-I-P of application Ser. No. 10/205,294, filed Jul. 24, 2002 and issued Apr. 24, 2007 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,149. These previous applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to reinforcing a structure, and more particularly to increasing the shear resistance of an existing structure with framed walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Buildings have traditionally been designed to support their own weight plus that of expected inhabitants and furnishings. Buildings and other structures for supporting weight have long been expected to be very strong under vertical compression. Concrete is a favorite material for weight-bearing structures because it is inexpensive and has exceptional compressive strength.

In the mid-1900s, architects began to take lateral forces into account more than they had previously. Wind can exert strong lateral force on tall buildings and long bridges. Smaller structures were still designed without much regard for strong lateral forces, though, until concern for earthquake resistance began growing in the 1970s in the United States, partly due to the massive Anchorage earthquake in 1964.

Frame structures consist of a skeleton of elongate wood, metal, or concrete members that are connected together. These elongate members may be connected together by various means. In some cases brackets that join elongate members while resisting twist are used. More typically, framing members are connected with nails or screws that are easily bent and that can allow the framing members to pivot about the connection when under stress from an unusual direction.

Many modern buildings, including most residences, are supported by a framework consisting of an array of vertical support members connected at top and bottom by horizontal connecting members. The most familiar example of this type of construction in the United States is the wooden frame house with 2×4 inch wooden studs connected by a wooden bottom plate at the bottom and a wooden top plate at the top.

The bottom plate connects the frame to the foundation and the top plate connects to the roof The studs are typically attached to the top and bottom plates by stiff attachment means such as nails or screws. The wooden framework provides the compressive strength sufficient to support the weight of the walls and roof. However, a conventional wooden framework does not have much resistance to the lateral forces that may result from earthquake or high wind.

Typically, a degree of shear bracing is added in the form of some diagonal “let-in” braces added between vertical studs. The braces are to prevent twisting of the framed structure, such as could be caused by warping of the studs or plates as the wood reacts to varying temperature and humidity conditions. Horizontal blocking members are attached between studs for various reasons, such as to increase the stiffness of a wall where cabinets will be attached or to maintain lengthy studs parallel to each other.

Once the framework skeleton is complete, a sheathing of some material is applied over the framing to give a smooth surface and to increase the shear resistance of the wall. Such a sheathing material is typically plaster, wood paneling including plywood, or gypsum board, also known as drywall or sheetrock.

The stiffness of the sheathing material helps maintain the framework erect under lateral forces such as earthquake or high wind. Building codes take this effect into account and allow designers to include fewer diagonal braces or other shear reinforcements than would be required for unsheathed frame walls. Because various sheathing materials are known to have different shear strength values, there are different code requirements for constructing the frame, depending upon the planned sheathing material.

The shear strength values were formerly derived from small scale mechanical tests of the materials themselves. Testing of construction materials has become more realistic and sophisticated in the past few decades. As a result, some of the previously used strength values have been found to be inaccurate.

In particular, buildings that use gypsum board for interior walls, also called drywall construction, have been found to have much less resistance to lateral forces than their designers intended. For many years, designers used an erroneously high value for the shear resistance of walls faced with gypsum board. Later research, as well as analysis of buildings damaged by earthquake or wind, has shown that the true shear resistance contribution of gypsum board is only about 10% of what was previously accepted.

Many buildings worldwide need to be retrofitted so as to have the desired degree of shear force resistance. A conventional method for strengthening such buildings is to pull out the gypsum board and replace it with plywood that is attached to the building framework.

Replacing gypsum board with plywood is an effective method for increasing the resistance to lateral forces, but has disadvantages. The “demolition” step of removing the gypsum is extremely dusty, releasing particles into the atmosphere of the building and generating larger particles that drop to flat surfaces and into crevices. Between disposal of the bulk of the gypsum board and the cleanup of the building, a great deal of solid waste is created.

The dust may include gypsum, asbestos, and paper. Because dust in the air is harmful to people, animals, and many machines, the contents of the building have to be wrapped, packed, or removed so they are not contaminated. Residents or workers in the building being retrofitted may be required to absent the building for a day or longer.

Both the steps of demolition and of installing plywood are noisy for the entire duration of the work. Even if people and machines in the building can be isolated from the dust by temporary walls, such as of plastic sheeting, it is likely that the noise of the operation would prevent occupants from working or resting in the building during the retrofitting.

Simply replacing the drywall sheathing of interior walls with plywood may not be enough to increase the strength of the structure as much as desired. Additional wooden bracing within the walls or use of metal tie straps to connect various components of the structure together may be needed.

To withstand lateral forces such as seismic or wind forces, a structure's components must be strongly connected together. Yet, it has been found that extremely rigid structures do not fare as well in earthquakes or wind as structures with some flexibility. Replacing gypsum board with nailed-in plywood does not significantly improve the ductility of the structure. If additional internal bracing or metal connectors must be installed, the ductility of the structure may be actually reduced, leaving the structure still vulnerable to cracking or rupturing under strong lateral force. A violent failure of one component of a structure often causes a sudden chain reaction failure of other components, possibly trapping or crushing occupants. A ductile structure is more likely to fail in a gradual manner, allowing time for occupants to notice the impending failure and take steps to evacuate or even repair damage.

Seismic retrofitting by replacing gypsum board with plywood is expensive and is therefore typically being done on only the highest-risk structures. Costs of the method include loss of productivity and use of the building during the retrofitting, potential cost of temporarily relocating occupants, dust abatement and cleanup, cost of demolition labor and disposal fees for the gypsum, cost of protecting contents of the building, cost of additional bracing and reinforcing, and cost of the plywood itself and its installation. Lastly, after the walls are replaced, paint, trim, wallpaper and other ornamental finishes must be replaced.

The need for a less costly method of seismic retrofitting of drywall structures is great. Such a method should provide shear resistance that is at least equivalent to that of plywood. There is a need for such a retrofit method that does not generate large quantities of solid waste and that does not contaminate the structure with harmful dust and particles.

There is further a need for a retrofit method that can be performed while people work or live in the building, without undue noise or exposure to harmful materials. Such a retrofit method should preferably make it more likely that any failure of the structure, if it does occur, is gradual instead of sudden and catastrophic so that occupants may escape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a system for increasing the shear resistance of gypsum sheathed walls and reinforcing the attachment among multiple structural components. A structure reinforced by the materials and method of the invention is less likely to fail under lateral forces, such as those experienced during an earthquake, hurricane, or explosion.

The resistance to shear forces of structures reinforced by the system of the present invention is at least as great as that of structures reinforced by the conventional replacement of gypsum with plywood. However, the apparent ductility of the structure is greater and the total cost is significantly lower.

Using the system of the present invention, retrofitting can be performed while people occupy the building, without creation of dust and with much less noise than is made during the conventional procedure. Much less solid waste material is created.

The method of the present invention includes covering gypsum wallboard with thin composite sheeting, such as panels or strips of polymer-impregnated textile. Ductile attachment means, preferably fiber anchors as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,149, are installed to connect the covered wall to an adjacent structural component such as a concrete slab or frame member.

If connecting straps are needed for additional connection among structural components such as door frames or between floors of multilevel buildings, long strips of composite are applied where needed on the outer surface of the gypsum wallboard. No bracing inside of the wall is necessary and the gypsum board remains in place throughout the structure.

This method is fairly quiet and dustless, so therefore does not require relocation or protection of occupants and equipment. The composite panels used contain only small amounts of volatile chemicals, so there is no hazardous or intrusive odor. Because the gypsum wall sheathing remains in place, a large quantity of solid waste is not generated and the retrofitting is completed in less time.

The system and method of the present invention provides a lower-cost, safer, and faster alternative to replacement of gypsum board with plywood, yet improves the shear strength of the retrofitted building at least as well as the plywood replacement method.

The invention will now be described in more particular detail with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. In the drawings, not all details of construction of the structures are shown, for the sake of clarity. However, the illustrated structures are intended to represent conventional structures that include framed walls with brittle wall sheathing, such as gypsum board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view, cut away, of a first embodiment of the reinforcement system of the present invention reinforcing a conventional frame and gypsum board wall.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view, cut away, of a second embodiment of the reinforcement system of the present invention reinforcing a wall that includes other structural elements, namely door frames.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a third embodiment of the reinforcement system of the present invention reinforcing a wall by reinforcing the connection among framing members.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the upper right portion of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of reinforcement system 10 of the present invention reinforcing a portion of a structure 100, such as conventional frame wall 110 that is covered with a sheathing of gypsum board 112, which is partly cut away. Frame wall 110 includes framing members 115, vertical and horizontal members, typically of wood. Gypsum board 112 is nailed to framing members 115 to cover framing members 115 and give wall 110 a smooth outer surface 113. Wall 110 is supported by a foundation, such as concrete slab 130.

Reinforcement system 10 as shown in FIG. 1 includes a sheet of textile 20, such as fabric that is woven or knit from fibers with high tensile strength. Textile 20 is stretched over surface 113 of gypsum board 112 and attached by suitable means, such as adhesive. Adhesive may be previously applied to surface 113 before textile 20 is stretched over surface 113, or textile 20 may be stretched and temporarily attached, such as with staples, then adhesive may be sprayed or rolled on over textile 20 to attach textile 20 to surface 113.

Preferably, textile 20 is a panel of fabric that is pre-impregnated with synthetic resin, such as epoxy, urethane, or other polymers as are well-known in the art. Most preferably, the impregnation step has been performed at another location and most solvents or other volatile components of the resin have already evaporated. The “B-stage” gel that remains in textile 20 thus has low odor and low human toxicity via respiration. The B-stage panel of textile 20 is flexible and easy to cut, drill, or punch, but is not so sticky that it is difficult to handle.

This type of textile panel is commonly known as “pre-preg” or “FRP” (fiber-reinforced polymer). The fiber portion of the panel is typically woven or knitted filaments of glass or graphite carbon. A suitable FRP panel typically is tacky enough to adhere lightly to a wall upon contact, then cures at ambient temperature over a period of hours or days to become tightly adhered. Such a panel may also be applied to a ceiling, but may require an additional tack coat of liquid or pasty adhesive to hold it in place during curing. Light mechanical fasteners such as staples may also be used.

If textile 20 is not pre-impregnated with resin, various means for attaching textile 20 to wall 110, as are known in the art, may be used. For example, textile 20 may be run between rollers that apply a suitable adhesive. Alternatively, textile 20 may be stretched over surface 113 then suitable adhesive is applied over textile 20 such as by brush or spray. The adhesive will penetrate textile 20 and adhere to surface 113.

Examples of suitable adhesives include epoxy, polyurethane, latex, and acrylic. It is preferred that the adhesive used should be low in volatile emissions during curing and that any vapors emitted be low toxicity and low odor.

For maximum improvement of ductility and strength, textile 20 is attached to wall 110 substantially coplanar, so as to largely cover wall 110. That is, textile 20 is not attached to wall 110 such as by edges only or by intermittent areas of adhesive. Textile 20 is preferably attached across its entire wall-facing surface to surface 113 of wall 110.

Fiber anchors 30, as are known in the art and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,149, are installed along one or more edges of wall 110. Boreholes 31 are drilled into an anchor medium adjacent wall 110, such as into slab 130, into the soil supporting structure 100, or into a frame member 115 of wall 110 or a frame member 115 of an adjacent floor or level of structure 100.

Boreholes 31 are typically drilled into a framing member 115 near the top or bottom of wall 110. However, a borehole 31 can optionally be drilled through gypsum board 112 and into an underlying framing member 115 in order to install a fiber anchor 30 that is not disposed at an edge of wall 110.

A length of roving 32, composed of loosely twisted filaments of ductile, strong fiber, is inserted into each borehole 31 with a free end 33 protruding. Free end 33 of roving 32 is splayed out against textile 20 and attached to textile 20 with a suitable adhesive 36.

One preferred method of practicing the invention is to first attach textile 20 to surface 113, then to attach free end 33 over textile 20 such that free end 33 is attached with adhesive 36 to the outer surface of textile 20. A second preferred method of practicing the invention is to attach free end 33 directly to surface 113 of wall 110, then to attach textile 20 with adhesive such that free end 33 is attached to the inner surface of textile 20.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, a plurality of fiber anchors 30 are shown as arrayed along the sill of wall 110 with boreholes 31 drilled into slab 130. The combination of textile 20 and fiber anchors 30 provide a strong ductile connection between slab 130 and wall 110, reinforcing wall 110 against being disconnected from slab 130 by strong lateral force, such as from an earthquake. Perhaps more importantly, textile 20 increases the ductility of surface 113 of wall 110, making gypsum board 112 unlikely to rupture catastrophically.

To reinforce connection among floors of a structure, anchors 30 may be installed such that borehole 31 is drilled into a frame member 115 of an adjacent floor. For example, borehole 31 may be drilled upwardly into a support member 115 of the floor above. In this case, free end 33 would extend downward and be splayed against an upper portion of surface 113 of wall 110.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to drill borehole 31 through an adjacent frame member 115, such as a joist or beam, and insert roving 32 through borehole 31 such that a free end 33 protrudes from each end of borehole 31. A first free end 31 is splayed and attached to a first wall, ceiling, or floor; and a second free end 31 is splayed and attached to a second wall, ceiling, or floor.

From observing the effects of actual strong earthquakes and simulated earthquake tests on conventional structures 100, non-reinforced gypsum board 112 has been found to respond in a brittle manner, cracking and rupturing away from framing members 115. Once gypsum board 112 ruptures, it contributes no strength to wall 100, allowing framing members 115 to bend their connections, typically nails, screws, or brackets, so as to allow wall 100 to collapse. This type of failure in one section of wall 110 may lead to further failures in other sections of structure 100.

Reinforcement system 10 of the present invention increases the ductility of wall 110 and connects wall 110 to the foundation, such as slab 130 or a lower floor (not shown) of structure 100, in a strong ductile manner. Even under strong lateral forces, such as from a major earthquake, reinforced structure 100 maintains connection among all components such as framing members 115, gypsum board 112, and slab 130. As long as all the components of structure 100 remain connected, they act cooperatively to maintain structure 100 in a non-collapsed state, even if some lesser damage such as breaking of windows occurs. It has been found in laboratory testing that reinforced gypsum board 112 may crack, but because it is supported against rupture by textile 20, gypsum board 112 remains attached to framing members 115 and does not fully break or collapse.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of reinforcement system 10 of the present invention reinforcing a wall 110 that includes other visible structural elements, namely door frames 120 or window frames. Wall 110 is sheathed by gypsum board 112 and is reinforced with textile 20, shown partly cut away, and fiber anchors 30 of the type previously discussed.

Some structures 100 may need further reinforcement among individual components, such as connecting door frames 120 to reinforced wall 110 to prevent them from separating from wall 110 and toppling to one side or the other of wall 100 under strong lateral forces. In the past, people were advised to take refuge in a doorway during a strong earthquake and many people still do this. Thus, it is especially desirable that door frames 120 not separate from wall 110, possibly injuring a person trying to shelter in the door opening.

In conventional structures 100 that experience strong lateral forces, especially forces that change direction such as earthquakes, certain structural components such as door frames 120 may sway with a different frequency than the sway frequency of the rest of wall 110 or structure 100. The unsynchronized swaying may cause gypsum board 112 around door frames 120 to crack or rupture, allowing door frames 120 to separate from wall 110 and possibly topple away from wall 110.

To further reinforce structural components that are not strongly connected to the rest of structure 100, such as door frames 120, long “drag” or “collector” strips 40 of textile 20 connect a plurality of door frames 120. As shown in FIG. 2, each door frame has two vertical collector strips 40 attached generally over or in proximity to the vertical members of the door frame 120. A long horizontal collector strip 40 is attached above door frames 120; horizontal strip 40 is attached with a suitable adhesive to surface 113 and to the vertical collector strips 40. The adhesive used to attach connector strips 40 may be the same as used to attach textile 20, but different adhesive may also be used. Collector strips 40 may alternatively be additionally attached to framing members 115 with mechanical fasteners, such as screws (not shown) to further increase the strength of the structure.

Drag, or collector, strips 40 provide strong ductile connection among door frames 120 and connect door frames 120 to other structural components, such as wall 110. In the event of a major earthquake or other strong lateral force, such as from a hurricane or explosion, door frames 120 will sway in unison with framing members 115 and reinforced gypsum board 112 instead of breaking away from them.

In like manner, collector strips 40 may be employed to reinforce the connection among many structural components, including but not limited to doors, windows, tilt-up walls, chimneys, and balconies. Collector strips 40 are not always required, but may be optionally employed to meet the requirements of a given application.

Collector strips 40 are optionally used to create a load path among floors or other portions of a structure 100. A slot may be cut, such as through a ceiling or floor, to allow a collector strip 40 to be passed through. Collector strip 40 is then attached by suitable adhesive to surfaces 113 of walls 110 on different floors of structure 100, or to framing members 115 or other components of structure 100, as appropriate. For creating a load path through structure 110, collector strip may be oriented vertically, horizontally, or at an angle.

Another preferred use of collector strips 40 is to buttress the attachment of fiber anchors 30 to surface 113, as seen in the middle portion of FIG. 2. An elongate collector strip 40 about 12 inches wide may be placed over a plurality of anchors 30, whether anchors 30 are disposed along the bottom or the top of wall 110.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a third preferred embodiment of reinforcement system 10 of the present invention reinforcing a wall 110 by reinforcing the connection among frame members 115. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the upper right portion of FIG. 3.

Frame members 115 for one wall 110 typically are rigidly joined so as to form a structural element that has good compressive strength and good flatness, but does not typically have good resistance to forces normal to the plane defined by wall 110. Frequently, especially in older structures, a framed wall is supported against normal forces mainly by the attachment of other, non-parallel walls. The framed wall may not have sufficient integrity to remain upright when stressed by a large lateral force and the main section will frequently tear apart from the rigidly attached corners.

Reinforcement system 10 of the present invention increases the ductility of the framed wall and spreads forces throughout the framed wall 100. This allows the framed wall to retain integrity along its entire length when stressed laterally and to remain connected to adjacent walls, foundation 120, and roof. Framed wall 100 typically includes at least two vertical support members 102 such as first stud 103 and second stud 104; and horizontal connecting members 105 connecting the ends of studs 103,104 such as top plate 106 connecting the top ends of studs 103,104 and bottom plate 107 connecting the bottom ends of studs 103, 104. Bottom plate 107 is also connected to foundation 120. Framed wall 100 also includes wall sheathing 110, such as of gypsum board 112.

As shown in the drawings, reinforcement system 10 provides ductile connections among top plate, bottom plate, and vertical studs of the wooden framing behind wall. At least one collector strip 40 is attached to wall such that top end 41 is over top plate, bottom end 42 is over bottom plate, and the middle portion crosses over one or more vertical studs. Top end 41 and bottom end 42 are attached to their respective plates by ductile means, preferably fiber anchors 30.

Each FRP strip 12 includes a first end 13, a second end 14, and a middle portion 15 between ends 13,14. Each FRP strip 12 further includes an inner face 17 that is attached to wall 100 and an exposed face 18, opposite inner face 17, and which faces away from wall 100.

FRP strips 12 are typically attached in pairs, preferably forming an “X” upon a section of framed wall 100. FRP strips 12 may be attached over existing wall sheathing 110 or directly on bare framing members 101 in a structure being built or remodeled.

It has been found through experimentation that reinforcement system 10 is strongest if FRP strips 12 are attached such that the longitudinal axis of one strip 12 of a pair is at an angle of nominally 90° to the longitudinal axis of the other strip 12 of the pair. Thus, the horizontal width of the “X” should be about equal to the vertical distance from bottom connecting member 107 to top connecting member 106.

Because ends 13,14 of FRP strips 12 are attached over a junction 109, that is, to both a vertical support member 102 and a horizontal connecting member 105, the width of the “X” will actually be a multiple of the spacing of support members 102. For this reason, FRP strips 12 cannot always be at a 90° angle to each other, but care should be taken to set up reinforcement system 10 to come as close as possible to the preferred angle of 90°.

FRP strips 12 may be precut to a length determined to yield a “X” of appropriate dimensions, or FRP strips 12 may be cut as they are used from a length or roll of FRP material 12.

It is convenient to attach ends 13,14 to frame members 101 initially with some temporary means, such as staples. Then ends 13,14 are attached permanently by ductile attachment means 30, such as a plurality of fiber anchors 32.

Each end 13,14 is attached to both a vertical support member 102 and a horizontal connecting member 105. To accomplish this, end 13,14 is attached so as to generally cover junction 109 where a vertical support member 102 and a horizontal connecting member 105 abut.

For example, in FIG. 1, first end 13 of first strip 12a is attached to both first vertical support 103 and top connecting member 106. First end 13 partially covers junction 109 surrounding the area where first vertical support 103 and top connecting member 106 contact each other.

To create each fiber anchor 32, a borehole 34 is created, which passes through an end 13 or 14 of FRP strip 12 and into a frame member 101, underneath end 13 or 14. Precut FRP strips 12 may include pre-punched holes at appropriate locations in ends 13,14. In this case, an electric drill would be inserted into a punched hole and borehole 34 finished by drilling about an inch into the wood of frame member 101. Alternatively, borehole 34 may be drilled directly through end 13 or 14 and into frame member 101.

Each fiber anchor 32 so created attaches end 13,14 to one of the underlying frame members, 102,105. Each end 13,14 is preferably attached with a plurality of fiber anchors 32. Fiber anchors 32 are disposed such that some anchors 32 attach a given end 13, 14 to vertical support member 102 and some anchors 32 attach the same end 13, 14 to the horizontal connecting member 105 near junction 109 where the two frame members 102,105 abut. Thus, the plurality of fiber anchors 32 ductilely attach each end 13 or 14 to both a vertical support member 102 and a horizontal connecting member 105, and indirectly reinforce the attachment of the two members 102,105 to each other.

Middle portion 15 of each FRP strip 12 is attached to wall sheathing 110 by adhesive means, such as the resin that impregnates FRP strip 12. This resin may be a partially cured (“gelled” or “B-staged”) resin that is supplied as a component of FRP strip 12, or liquid resin that is applied at the worksite, such as by dipping a strip 11 into a container of resin, or by rolling or brushing resin over strip 11 that has been attached to wall 100 by temporary means or with ductile attachment.

The most preferred manner of practicing the reinforcement system 10 of the present invention, as illustrated in the drawings, is to further attach an anchor plate 20 to each junction of vertical support member 102 and horizontal connecting member 105 to which first end 13 or second end 14 will be attached.

Referring especially now to FIG. 1, anchor plates 20 are generally square plates, such as of wood or plastic. For use in a single-family house, typical dimensions are 12 by 12 inches with a thickness of about 0.25 inch.

The purpose of anchor plates 20 is to spread out forces. Because each anchor plate 20 is connected to both a vertical support member 102 and a horizontal connecting member 105, each fiber anchor 32 is effectively connected to both members 102,105 as well. Anchor plate 20 helps stabilize fiber anchors 32 such that each fiber anchor 32 helps reinforce against forces from any direction. Anchor plate 20 also helps ensure that fiber anchor 32 will not pull out under especially violent forces.

System 10 of the present invention is described herein as being useful for reinforcing walls that are covered, or sheathed, with gypsum board 112, often known as drywall or sheetrock. While there are very many gypsum board walls urgently in need of reinforcement, there are also other types of structural components that can be reinforced using system 10. For example, reinforcement system 10 may be used to strengthen walls that are sheathed with plywood, if a very strong and ductile wall is required. Reinforcement system 10 is most simply applied to planar surfaces, such as wall 110 described herein, but may be employed to connect walls that are at an angle to each other, including both “inside” and “outside” right angles.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various changes may be made in the form, composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein without sacrificing any of its advantages. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for reinforcing a framed structure, the structure including: a plurality of framing members including: at least one pair of vertical support members in parallel spaced-apart relation, one horizontal top connecting member connecting the top portions of the vertical support members, at least one horizontal bottom connecting member connecting the bottom portions of the vertical support members and wall sheathing attached over the framing members; said system including:

at least one connector strip of resin-impregnated textile, said strip adapted to connect a top connecting member to a bottom connecting member; said strip including: a first end attached to the top connecting member; a second end attached to the bottom connecting member; an inner face disposed toward the wall sheathing; an exposed face disposed away from the wall sheathing; and a middle portion between said first and second ends; and

ductile attachment means attaching each said end to one connecting member.

2. The system of claim 1, further including:

at least one anchor plate, said anchor plate attached between one said strip end and one connecting member; said ductile attachment means further attaching said anchor plate with said strip end and said connecting member.

3. The system of claim 1, said at least one connector strip comprising:

a pair of connector strips attached to the top and bottom connecting members such that said pair of connector strips form an “X” shape on the wall sheathing.

4. The system of claim 3, said pair of strips attached such that the longitudinal axis of one said strip is disposed at a angle in the range of 70-110 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the other said strip.

5. A method for reinforcing a framed structure that includes framing members, including a first vertical support member and a second vertical support member in parallel spaced-apart relation, one horizontal top connecting member connecting the top portions of the vertical support members, and at least one horizontal bottom connecting member connecting the bottom portions of the vertical support members; the method including the steps of:

providing a first strip of material having: a first end, a second end, and a middle portion therebetween and with a length approximating the distance between the junction of the first support member with the top connecting member and the junction of the second support member with the bottom connecting member;

attaching the first end of the first strip to the junction of the first support member with the top connecting member using ductile attachment means;

attaching the second end of the first strip to the junction of the second support member with the bottom connecting member using ductile attachment means;

providing a second strip of material having: a first end, a second end, and a middle portion therebetween and with a length approximating the distance between the junction of the second support member with the top connecting member and the junction of the first support member with the top connecting member;

attaching the first end of the second strip to the junction of the second support member with the top connecting member using ductile attachment means; and

attaching the second end of the second strip to the junction of the first support member with the bottom connecting member using ductile attachment means such that the middle portion of the second strip overlies the middle portion of the first strip.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the ends of the strips of material are attached to junctions of framing members such that the longitudinal axes of the attached first and second strips form an angle of 70 to 110 degrees.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein each step of attaching an end of a strip to a junction using ductile attachment means comprises the step of creating a fiber anchor, further including the sub-steps of:

creating a borehole that passes through the end of the strip and into a framing member;

inserting a length of roving through the end of the strip and into the framing member such that a free end protrudes from the end of the strip;

backfilling the borehole with adhesive to capture the roving; and

attaching the free end of roving to the end of the strip with adhesive.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each step of attaching an end of a strip to a junction comprises the step of creating a plurality of fiber anchors by repeating the sub-steps of claims 7 a plurality of times.