Modular budding units comprise, prior to installation at a construction site, a floor, a ceiling, and a plurality of walls which together define a habitable interior, wherein at least one wall is a reinforced wall capable of spanning a spanning distance of at least 50 feet without underlying support. In some embodiments, reinforced walls comprise one or more reinforcing structures. In some embodiments, the spanning distance is at least 60 feet; in some, at least 70 feet; and in some, at least 80 feet. In a further aspect, a method of building construction comprises the steps of: a) constructing a modular building unit according to the present disclosure at an assembly site; b) transporting the modular building unit to a construction site; and c) installing the modular building unit at the construction site, optionally across a unsupported span of at least 50 feet.

A reinforced building wall includes a first stud wall disposed above a foundation; the first stud wall including a bottom plate, a top plate and first and second vertical studs extending between the bottom plate and the top plate; a first threaded rod having a first end portion embedded in the foundation and a second end portion extending through the bottom plate; a compression rod having a first end portion operably attached to the second end portion of the first threaded rod and a second end portion operably bearing onto a bottom surface of the top plate, the compression rod is configured to handle compression forces from the top plate without buckling; an anchor embedded in the foundation, the anchor is operably attached to the first end portion of the first threaded rod.

A load-bearing panel and a building frame structure is provided, in which an initial stiffness and a yield strength are enhanced while appropriately reducing the maximum strength after yielding. Thus, it is possible to avoid generating excessive stress in adjacent building frames. The load-bearing panel includes: a rectangular-shaped base frame 2 formed by joining a pair of horizontal base materials 21 and 22 to a pair of vertical base materials 23 and 23; and a composite surface material 3 made of wooden plywood 31 and a metal plate 32 stacked on each other. Four side edges of the composite surface material 3 are attached to a base frame 2 by driving nails. The spacing between the nails in a center part of each side edge in the length direction is smaller than the spacing between the nails in both end parts of the side edge.

A metal reinforcement fitting for reinforcing a through hole penetrating through a wooden building component from one surface and the other surface thereof includes: a first plate member made of a metal plate, a cylindrical member made of a metal cylinder, and a second plate member made of a metal plate. The first plate member has a through hole adapted to receive a rod-like fastener therethrough, and is adapted to be disposed on the one surface of the wooden building component. The cylindrical member is adapted to receive the rod-like fastener therethrough and to be inserted and fitted in the through hole of the wooden building component so as to extend over an entire length thereof. The second plate member has a through hole adapted to receive the rod-like fastener therethrough, and is adapted to be disposed on the other surface of the wooden building component.

Modular building units comprise, prior to installation at a construction site, a floor, a ceiling, and a plurality of walls which together define a habitable interior, wherein at least one wall is a reinforced wall capable of spanning a spanning distance of at least 50 feet without underlying support. In some embodiments, reinforced walls comprise one or more reinforcing structures. In some embodiments, the spanning distance is at least 60 feet; in some, at least 70 feet; and in some, at least 80 feet. In a further aspect, a method of building construction comprises the steps of: a) constructing a modular building unit according to the present disclosure at an assembly site; b) transporting the modular building unit to a construction site; and c) installing the modular building unit at the construction site, optionally across a unsupported span of at least 50 feet.

A supporting structure (102) for a wall or a roof partition (104; 120) of a building structure (100), comprises an internal core structure (114) extending in a longitudinal direction, and first and second external covering profiles (106) for at least partially covering the core structure (114). The covering profiles (106) define inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces (108) facing one another, with slits (116) being formed at the inwardly facing surfaces (108). The core structure comprises at least two bands of material (114) which are mutually offset. The supporting structure (102) is suitable as a post, pillar, column, lath, batten, rafter, truss, girder, bar, or beam for a wall or roof partitions of a greenhouse, a cabin or shanty, a wall of a house, a stand-alone wall or roof partition, such as pent roof, a canopy, a fence, a windbreak or a solar panel structure The bands of material (114) are interconnected at their ends only and are pre-tensioned to provide stiffness, and may be configured to minimize their thermal conductivity.

A reinforced stud-framed wall, including a bottom plate; first and second vertical studs; a member supported on the bottom plate, the member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; the first vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the member with a first contact area, whereby a load on the first contact area is spread over a first area on the bottom plate larger than the first contact area; and the second vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the member with a second contact area, whereby a load on the second contact area is spread over a second area on the bottom plate larger than the second contact area.

Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a modular building structure. A plurality of structural truss modules are provided. Each one of the structural truss modules includes a spaced pair of elongated wood chords and a web connecting the elongated wood chords. The web including a plurality of metal support rods each having a pair of opposed threaded sections. The first of the pair of opposed threaded sections engaged to a first one of the elongated wood chords at an angle thereto. The second of the pair of opposed threaded sections engaged to the other one of the elongated wood chords at an angle thereto. The structural truss modules are cut to a predetermined length. A first member is connected between the spaced pairs of elongated wood chords. First ends of the plurality of structural truss modules are configured to connect to a ledger member.

A metal joint for joining, to a frame built by appropriately combining a horizontal structural member and a vertical structural member, a rectangular panel fitted into the frame includes a base member made of a rectangular metal plate, and cylindrical members which are each made of a metal cylinder, and are fixed onto opposite surfaces of the base member. The base member is adapted to be disposed between the frame and the panel. The cylindrical members are adapted to be fitted into circular holes formed in the frame and the panel.

A shearwall is disclosed for use in lightweight or other constructions to transmit lateral shear forces and dissipate energy on the construction. In examples, the shearwall includes a central panel formed of wood, and side plates formed of steel. The side plates may be affixed at lower corners of first and second opposed surfaces of the central panel. Each side plate may include a fastening plate for affixing the side plate to the central panel, and a restraint plate which fits within a reduced area section of the central panel between the first and second surfaces.