Perforated Wood Shear Wall Openings 2

[LowLax]

I'm wondering if there is a special way that window openings need to be detailed in a perforated wood shear wall. Do you need to reinforce the corners of the opening somehow? I'm using IBC, and it seems pretty vague on the details. Thanks in advance.

 

[jjeng2]

There are several different ways to approach and analyze this. The IBC "wood" chapter has some information. An excellent reference is "2000 IBC Structural/Seismic Design Manual-Volume 1, Code Application Examples". Example 59 should give you all you need to know. I think it is available from ICC.

 

[FalsePrecision]

As a modestly-paid employee of a structural firm, I think I have seen the light: why slave long hours, when I can start a new Code Committee, publish an over-priced Codebook with nothing but vague references, and then publish an even higher-overpriced Code Application/Examples series.

 

[LowLax]

Yeah, those Design Example books aren't cheap. They want $170 for all three. Do you think it's worth getting the set or should I just buy Vol. 1. I need to start building a library and studying for the PE exam, it's about 2-3 yrs. away for me.

 

[JedClampett]

To get cheap or free information, go to someone who has a stake in selling the end product. For perforated shear walls, the plywood people are very interested in promoting their use. APA (

http://www.apawood.org/index.cfm)

has a free download called "Diaphragms and shear Walls". You'll have to register (also free).

 

[FalsePrecision]

Low,
It's your decision-I had enough real-work experience when I took the PE. I didn't need the solved example workbooks. Needed only my college textbooks, the UBC Code, and my calculator.
In my opinion, the people who lug a lot of solved example workbooks to the exam are the ones who don't have real-life work experience.

 

[LowLax]

Thanks for all your help. This forum's great. I hate always bugging my boss for information.

 

[jjeng2]

The code example books are expensive but helpful. I think they were worth the money. They are a good reference but also were good when transistioning from BOCA to IBC. They are easy to look stuff up in and I think they saved me money and time if I had to track down references for all thats included. I dont know how applicable the books would be for studying for the PE. When I took it, it did not use the IBC. It mostly used the old code that was used out west. I had no references for that code and was not familiar with it. Basically, I think they are good references and worth it but wont be helpful for the PE.

 

[AUCE98]

LowLax,

As far as the example books for the wood shear walls is concerned, if you are in question how to design and/or detail the preforated walls have your firm purchase the material. I would not expect an employee in our firm to have to purchase references that are requierd for work.

The PE exam will not provide you enough time to take a lot of books with examples worked. In my opinion, you will spend more time looking for a similar example problem than working it. By the time you are ready to take the exam, you will be in fine shape to pass.

Good Luck,

AUCE98