Can a wood structural panel diaphragm be made rigid? 1

[volney68]

I am providing structural design for a single-family residence in which some adjacent exterior walls are entirely glazed and offer no shear resistance. Treating the roof as a rigid diaphragm may be an inexpensive way to accomodate the open exterior walls. Are there any methods that may be employed to ensure that a wood structural panel diaphragm will behave rigidly?

Seismic Design Catagory is 'C'.

Thanks

 

[JAE]

volney68 - read the definition of "Diaphragm, Flexible" in the IBC under Chapter 16, section 1602. They have a way to determine when a diaphragm is flex vs. rigid....

i.e. when the lateral deformation of the diaphragm is more than two times the average story drift of the associated story....etc...read it and you'll be able to classify your diaphragm one way or the other.

 

[engineercanada]

You could use interal walls with proper connections to connect with the diaphram.

 

[Taro]

Also check IBC 2305.2.5. The rigid diaphragm length is limited to 25 feet.