Shear Wall Test Results Comparing 8d Common and 8d Box Nails

While building codes have long specified common nails for wood structural panel shear walls, many collated nails used with nail guns actually have smaller diameters corresponding to box, cooler, or sinker nails. The diameter difference of approximately 15% theoretically translates to a 25% reduction in lateral load resistance according to NDS calculations based on a single nail.

This publication is designed for: engineers, designers, contractors, builders

The document presents comprehensive test data from multiple studies spanning from the 1960s through 2004, comparing actual shear wall performance between nail types.

Key sections include:

• Background on nail diameter differences and their theoretical impact on lateral resistance

• Historical monotonic test results from the 1960s

• Modern cyclic test data from 32 full-scale assemblies

• Analysis of why actual performance differs from analytical predictions

• References to supporting research studies

Published by APA — The Engineered Wood Association.