Allow me to play devil's advocate.
How many traditional timber frames do not rely on the walls/roof to stiffen them up? Old barn frames are stiffened greatly by the siding. Old houses by the siding/lath and plaster, etc. Older houses by the infill. Take away these skins and you'll find a frame that moves with the weight of a human -- even if there are lots of braces and the joints are tight.
Is it possible that the quest to have "stand-alone" frames that are stiff enough to handle wind loads without depending on either the skins/infill or steel is a modern idea fueled by a misunderstanding of traditional buildings.
In other words -- the incredible difficulty of designing stiff mortise and tenon braced frames may be an example of our proving history -- timber frames have always needed the help of their skins.
Any thoughts?
Gabel
