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LATERAL DESIGN
A PA
THE ENGINEERED
WOOD ASSOCIATION
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WOOD
The Miracle Material
Wood is the right choice for a host of construction applications. It is the
earths natural, energy efficient and renewable building material.
Engineered wood is a better use of wood. The miracle in todays wood
products is that they make more efficient use of the wood fiber resource
to make stronger plywood, oriented strand board, I-joists, glued laminated timbers, and
laminated veneer lumber. Thats good for the environment, and good for designers seeking
strong, efficient, and striking building design.
Percent of Percent of
Wood products made up 47 percent of all Material Production Energy Use
industrial raw materials manufactured in the
Wood 47 4
United States, yet consumed only 4 percent
Steel 23 48
of the energy needed to manufacture all
industrial raw materials, according to Aluminum 2 8
a 1987 study.
Good news for a healthy planet. For every ton of wood grown,
a young forest produces 1.07 tons of oxygen and absorbs 1.47 tons of
carbon dioxide.
Wood, the miracle material for the environment, NOTICE:
for design, and for strong, lasting construction. The recommendations in
this guide apply only to
A PA
THE EN
RED
GINEE TION
IA
panels that bear the APA
trademark. Only panels
ASSOC
WOOD bearing the APA trademark
ING are subject to the
SHEATH CH
RATED 15/32 IN Associations quality
32/1D6FOR SPACING auditing program.
SIZE RE 1
EXPOSU
000 PRP-10
8
C-D
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CONTENTS
A PRIMER for each direction). Then, the load VERTICAL LOAD PATH
capacity of all major building elements
Any building, regardless of size or and every connection between each
location, must be designed to safely element must be calculated to make
resist the structural loads anticipated sure each has the capacity to resist all
during its lifetime. These loads can be three loads and transfer lateral and
divided into two categories vertical vertical forces between them.
loads and lateral loads. Correct lateral design is essential. A
Vertical loads are loads acting in the building that has not been specifically
up and down direction. These loads designed and built to resist lateral loads
are the obvious ones; the weight of the will likely collapse when subjected to
building itself (dead load), the weight of these forces. This was proven by the
everything in the building (live load) and massive destruction seen as a result of
variable loads such as those from snow. Hurricane Andrew and the Northridge, FIGURE 2
Because these loads are easy to under- California Earthquake. This publication LATERAL LOAD PATH
stand, typical construction practice has is intended to help building designers
evolved into an efficient system that does avoid such disasters through proper
a good job of accommodating them. lateral design and detailing.
The challenge lies with the other Load Path
loads, the lateral loads. Lateral One of the most basic yet important
loads are those that act in a direction considerations facing building designers
parallel to the ground. The two major is that each individual building element
contributors to lateral load are high must be designed to carry expected
winds, such as those from a hurricane, loads. In addition, these loads must be
and seismic (earthquake) forces. Neither transferred through the rest of the struc-
type of load is intuitive and designing ture into the foundation. Finally, every into the foundation. From the founda-
for these loads is typically not fully connection between the elements of the tion, the load is then transferred into the
covered at the university level, or well structure must be designed so that the ground. Therefore, the load path for
understood outside of a few limited applied loads can be transferred from one vertical loads is: from the roof or floor to
academic and engineering circles. element to the next until they reach the the supporting walls, through the floors
To further complicate matters, because ground. This transfer of forces through below, to the foundation and finally to
wind and seismic forces can be felt on the structure is called the load path. the ground. Vertical load transfer is sim-
the building from any direction, the Understanding a vertical load path is plified because of the way elements are
structure must be designed to withstand quite straightforward. Vertical loads act stacked on top of each other in con-
lateral loads in two directions at right upwards or downwards on the horizontal ventional framing. No such advantage
angles to each other. As a result, three elements of the structure the roof and exists for lateral load design.
separate load designs must be calculated floors. The roof and floors transfer these The lateral load path is less intuitive
loads to the load-bearing walls below and but the rules remain the same. The
S
LD
and then design: L HOCK
L A
SH WAOF B
E RO
(BEAR W
HI AL
ND L
)
PH DI IC D
RA A- ISM UN N
GM SE RO TIO
G O
M
SH E
E
WAAR RC
FO
LL
FIGURE 5
E
NC RE
ISTA SIS
S TA
RE NCE
NO
NO RESISTANCE
designer to use either of two methods to various floor spans, the fastening sched- sheathing/siding
design light frame wood structures. ule for all applications, etc. Because Different framing grades, species
Both are appropriate for detached one prescriptive requirements ignore specific and sizes
and two family dwellings as well as Limitations on the placement of the
factors such as the actual geometry of the
many other wood structures. These two structure, actual loads seen by the struc- shear wall segments (e.g., shear walls on
methods are by the use of engineering upper floors must be placed directly
ture and their location, this design
over shear walls below)
design or prescriptive requirements. method is limited for use in locations
Special fastening requirements at the
Chapter 16 of the current editions with low wind and minimal risk of seis- top of the shear wall elements to insure
of all three major model building codes mic activity. load transfer from the roof/floor
and the International Building Code is diaphragm into the shear wall
Bracing versus Shear Walls
the chapter that provides the informa- When the building is designed using
The design method chosen, engineered
tion required to engineer a structure prescriptive requirements, lateral forces
or prescriptive, will determine whether
the design-based requirements. This are resisted by wall bracing instead of
shear walls or wall bracing are used to
chapter provides all of the vertical and by shear walls. This wall bracing must
provide lateral bracing and resistance
horizontal design loads (gravity, snow, be placed at prescribed locations
in the structure.
wind, seismic, impact, construction, live throughout the structure: e.g., Each
and dead loads, etc.) that must be con- In the process of designing a box-type end and not more than 25 feet on cen-
sidered when doing an engineering structure, the engineer/designer will find ter (taken from Table 2308.9.3(1) of
design of any type of structure covered that he or she must provide a number of the 2000 International Building Code).
by the building codes. vertical wall elements designed to resist While these bracing panels serve the
the horizontal forces acting on the build- same function as the engineered shear
This chapter provides no guidance on
ing (earthquake, wind or both). The wall provide resistance to the lateral
how to actually build the structure. It
elements used in a box-type structure to forces acting on the structure they
just provides the loads on the structure.
resist lateral loads are shear walls. These have few elements in common with the
This data must be interpreted by a
shear walls also act as interior and exte- shear walls described above. Their lack
designer or engineer whose responsibil-
rior walls, load bearing and non-load of detailing severely limits the strength
ity it is to provide all of the details
bearing walls required to meet the archi- and stiffness of the wall bracing when
necessary to resist the applied loads
tectural goals of the building as well as compared with an engineered shear
and build the structure.
the requirements of other design loads. wall. For this reason, wall bracing is
The wood chapter of each of these
While shear walls may look similar to relegated to low-load situations.
building codes (Chapter 23) contains
other walls, they often contain a number
prescriptive requirements for the design
of important differences, including:
of wood structures. Prescriptive require-
ments provide a cookbook method for
Additional base shear anchor bolts in
the bottom plate (the size and number
the design of wood structures within
may be different from the prescriptive
certain limitations. They tell the designer requirements of the code)
Hold-down anchors at each end of
FIGURE 8
Relative Strength
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
0.5
0
Wood Gypsum Foam
Structural Sheathing
Panels with Let-in
Bracing
Half of edge
nail spacing
(Not to scale)
DIAPHRAGMS: RECOMMENDED SHEAR (POUNDS PER FOOT) FOR HORIZONTAL APA PANEL DIAPHRAGMS WITH FRAMING OF
DOUGLAS-FIR, LARCH OR SOUTHERN PINE (a) FOR WIND OR SEISMIC LOADING
Blocked Diaphragms Unblocked Diaphragms
Nail Spacing (in.) at Nails Spaced 6" max. at
diaphragm boundaries Supported Edges(b)
(all cases), at continuous
panel edges parallel
to load (Cases 3 & 4),
and at all panel
edges (Cases 5 & 6) (b)
Minimum 6 4 2-1/2 (c) 2 (c) Case 1 (No
Minimum Minimum Nominal unblocked
Nail Nominal Width of Nail Spacing (in.) at edges or All other
Penetration Panel Framing other panel edges continuous configurations
Common in Framing Thickness Member (Cases 1, 2, 3 & 4) joints parallel (Cases 2, 3,
Panel Grade Nail Size (inches) (inch) (inches) to load) 4, 5 & 6)
6 6 4 3
(a) For framing of other species: (1) Find specific gravity for species of lumber (d) Framing at adjoining panel edges shall be 3-in. nominal or wider, and
in the AFPA National Design Specification. (2) Find shear value from table nails shall be staggered where 10d nails having penetration into framing of
above for nail size for actual grade. (3) Multiply value by the following adjust- more than 1-5/8 inches are spaced 3 inches o.c.
ment factor: Specific Gravity Adjustment Factor = [1 (0.5 SG)], where SG (e) 8d is recommended minimum for roofs due to negative pressures of
= specific gravity of the framing. This adjustment shall not be greater than 1. high winds.
(b) Space nails maximum 12 in. o.c. along intermediate framing members Notes: Design for diaphragm stresses depends on direction of continuous
(6 in. o.c. when supports are spaced 48 in. o.c.). panel joints with reference to load, not on direction of long dimension of
(c) Framing at adjoining panel edges shall be 3-in. nominal or wider, and sheet. Continuous framing may be in either direction for blocked diaphragms.
nails shall be staggered where nails are spaced 2 inches o.c. or
2-1/2 inches o.c.
Continuous panel joints Diaphragm boundary Continuous panel joints Continuous panel joints
FIGURE 12 FIGURE 13
BASE SHEAR OVERTURNING
SHEAR WALLS: RECOMMENDED SHEAR (POUNDS PER FOOT) FOR APA PANEL SHEAR WALLS WITH FRAMING OF
DOUGLAS-FIR, LARCH, OR SOUTHERN PINE(a) FOR WIND OR SEISMIC LOADING (b)
Panels Applied Over
Panels Applied Direct to Framing 1/2" or 5/8" Gypsum Sheathing
Minimum Minimum
Nominal Nail Nail Size Nail Spacing at Nail Size Nail Spacing at
Panel Penetration (common or Panel Edges (in.) (common or Panel Edges (in.)
Panel Grade Thickness in Framing galvanized galvanized
(in.) (in.) box) 6 4 3 2(e) box) 6 4 3 2(e)
5/16 1-1/4 6d 200 300 390 510 8d 200 300 390 510
(a) For framing of other species: (1) Find specific gravity for species of lumber (d) Shears may be increased to values shown for 15/32-inch sheathing with
in the AFPA National Design Specification. (2) For common or galvanized box same nailing provided (1) studs are spaced a maximum of 16 inches o.c., or
nails, find shear value from table above for nail size for actual grade. (3) Multi- (2) if panels are applied with long dimension across studs.
ply value by the following adjustment factor: Specific Gravity Adjustment Factor (e) Framing at adjoining panel edges shall be 3-inch nominal or wider, and
= [1 (0.5 SG)], where SG = specific gravity of the framing. This adjustment nails shall be staggered where nails are spaced 2 inches o.c.
shall not be greater than 1.
(f) Framing at adjoining panel edges shall be 3-inch nominal or wider, and
(b) All panel edges backed with 2-inch nominal or wider framing. Install pan- nails shall be staggered where 10d nails having penetration into framing of
els either horizontally or vertically. Space nails maximum 6 inches o.c. along more than 1-5/8 inches are spaced 3 inches o.c.
intermediate framing members for 3/8-inch and 7/16-inch panels installed
on studs spaced 24 inches o.c. For other conditions and panel thicknesses, (g) Values apply to all-veneer plywood APA RATED SIDING panels only. Other
space nails maximum 12 inches o.c. on intermediate supports. APA RATED SIDING panels may also qualify on a proprietary basis. APA
RATED SIDING 16 oc plywood may be 11/32 inch, 3/8 inch or thicker.
(c) 3/8-inch or APA RATED SIDING 16 oc is minimum recommended when Thickness at point of nailing on panel edges governs shear values.
applied direct to framing as exterior siding.
Using the diaphragm and shear wall tables is relatively simple. After calculating your Drag Struts
required capacity, simply find the recommended design capacities. However, there are tips As described on page 4, the load
that can be used in both tables that will give you greater flexibility, permit substitutions path for a box-type structure goes from
and allow more economical designs. the diaphragm into the shear walls
running parallel to the direction of the
If a Structural I panel is selected from the tables, note that the same value can be load. Another way to say this is that the
achieved with a non-Structural I panel simply by increasing the thickness 1/8 of an inch. diaphragm loads the shear walls that
Because Structural I panels may not be readily available in all areas and are often higher support it. Because the diaphragm acts
in cost than non-Structural I sheathing, this alternative provides design flexibility. The like a long, deep beam, it loads each of
thicker panel will also provide a better nail base and may improve the capacity of the the supporting shear walls evenly along
the length of the walls. The problem lies
panel for normal loads, and may also be more inexpensive.
with the fact that seldom is each shear
If the capacity of a given panel thickness with a 6 and 12 nail spacing (6" on center at
wall solid throughout its full length.
supported panel edges and 12" on center over interior supports) isnt enough, consider a Typically, a wall contains windows
tighter nail spacing (4" or 3" on center) before going with a thicker panel. and doors.
When designing a diaphragm, only block the portion of the diaphragm that needs The traditional model used to analyze
blocking those areas where the diaphragm shear exceeds the unblocked diaphragm shear walls only recognizes wall seg-
capacity given for the panel type, thickness, fastener type and spacing. This saves ments that run full height as shear wall
time and labor. segments. This means that at locations
If a shear wall or diaphragm design load gets high enough to require the use of nail with windows or doors, a structural
element is needed to distribute the
spacings of 2-1/2 inches or less, consider using thicker panels because 3 x framing is
uniform diaphragm shear over the top
typically required at adjoining panel edges for these tight nail spacings. In these cases,
of the opening into the full height
thicker panels with a wider nail spacing may be a more cost-effective solution. segments adjacent to it. This element
In the shear wall table, the thickness of the panel at the point of nailing determines the is called a drag strut.
panel thickness. Thus, if a 19/32-inch-thick siding panel is to be used as a shear wall and
the long panel edges are nailed so that the nail does not go through the shiplapped or
grooved area of the panel edge, then the full 19/32-inch thickness of the panel may be used
to determine the shear wall capacity. This usually means starting the nails a little farther in FIGURE 14
from the edge of the panel and slanting them about 10 degrees toward the stud. TOP PLATE DRAG STRUTS
T1-11 nailing
Note:
Nailing of both panel edges along
shiplap joints is recommended. The
double nailing is required when wall
segment must meet wall bracing or
engineered shear wall requirements.
19
INTRODUCTION TO LATERAL DESIGN
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THE ENGINEERED
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