Shear Wall Panels Explained

Two weeks ago i had the chance to present to the young members group of the structural engineering association of metro washington on the topic of multi story light frame shear wall design.

Shear wall panels explained. These walls consist of the plywoods to distributes or transfer the shear forces. Can also use horizontal and diagonal board sheathing gypsum panels fiberboard lath and plaster and others blocked shear walls most common. With all of the large firms in the d c. Minimum length of a shear wall panel generally ranges from 4 to 8 of wall with no openings.

Must be adjusted by a reduction or resistance factor. For the design of shear walls with openings the designer has the option of using the segmented perforated or force transfer around openings classifications. The aspect ratios in table 4 3 4 above are applicable for the perforated design method as well. This means that the full length of the wall including segments with openings can be included in the lateral force resisting system.

This course has been approved by aia 1 hsw lu and icc 0 10 ceu. Sheathed shear walls most common. The perforated design method assumes that all openings in the shear wall are able to transfer the loads from around the opening to full length segments. Of the classifications analyzing shear walls discussed two are the most often adopted.

Shear wall analysis made easy. In the plywood the steel backed shear panel and sheet steel are used in the place of structural used plywood in the shear wall which is stronger to resist seismic pressure. Shear walls diaphragms when designing a building for lateral loads such as those generated by wind or earthquakes a design engineer may have several alternatives. This webinar includes an overview of apa s free design tool the ftao calculator and explains how it can help engineers and code officials in the design implementation of ftao shear walls with a focus on asymmetric piers and multiple openings.

Sdpws has reduction factors for unblocked shear walls note that capacities are given as nominal. A shear wall resists loads parallel to the plane of the wall. Lateral loads may be transferred to the foundation via braced frames or rigid frames diagonal rods or x bracing including let in bracing in the ease of wood frame construction. Shear walls are typically light framed or braced wooden walls with shear panels reinforced concrete walls reinforced masonry walls.