DES432 – Wood Diaphragm Design

The 2018 International Building Code (IBC) specifies that structures using wood-framed shear walls and diaphragms to resist wind, seismic and other lateral loads shall be designed and constructed in accordance with AWC’s 2015 Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic (SDPWS). Calculation of wood-frame diaphragm deflection should account for bending and shear deflections, fastener deformation, chord splice slip, and other contributing sources of deflections. The 2015 SDPWS incorporates both a 3-term and 4-term deflection equation that accounts for these variables. This course will provide an overview and comparison of the 3-term and 4-term deflection equations. Additionally, an example showing calculation of mid-span deflection of a blocked wood structural panel diaphragm will be presented.

Level: Intermediate
Primary Audience: Engineers, Code Officials

Learning Objectives: 

1. Calculate wood-frame diaphragm deflection using the 2015 SDPWS.
2. Compare the difference between the 3-term and 4-term deflection equation in the 2015 SDPWS.
3. Analyze individual components of the deflection equations to determine their magnitude of impact on total deflection.
4. Utilize the example deflection calculation in future design work as a model for their own calculations.

Equivalencies: 1.5 Hour of Instruction = 0.15 Continuing Education Units (CEU) = 1.5 Professional Development Hours (PDH) = 1.5 Learning Units (LU)