Slip Connection for Infill Wood Stud Under Steel Beam 1

[T_Bat]

Hello everyone - I've got a new structure I'm designing that is steel framed with wood infill studs. The steel framing will be in-wall. Typically I've seen this with metal studs and a slip track is used on the bottom flange of the beam to accommodate deflection of the steel beam without loading the exterior wall studs. However for with wood studs I'm not aware of a corresponding light gauge track that is 5 1/2" wide. I've searched the threads here and it appears most relate to partition walls under wood trusses. I don't think using a clip at each stud is necessary or economical.

There is an article from wood works that describes using 1/2" sheathing at the top of the wall so that the wall thickness fits into a 6" metal slip track (

http://www.woodworks.org/experttip/...rtition-walls-underside-floor-roof-framing/).

Has anyone ever used a detail like this?

One alternative being discussed is to design the wood walls under the the beams as load bearing. In theory and in my particular case they should be strong enough to work but I have a bad feeling about deformation compatibility and how the deflected steel beam will actually load the studs below (not smart enough to work out the math - just a feeling).

Any thoughts from experience?

Thanks,

T

 

[jayrod12]

Sometimes it's easier to put the slip connection at the bottom of the wood wall in cases like this. The trick is figuring out how to attach the base trim to allow movement.

 

[XR250]

You can get any size track custom made if you want. Have only used this detail on metal studs. BTW, have you checked your beam for torsion and weak axis bending due to the out-of-plane wind load on the stud wall? On most jobs I see, this never gets addressed.

 

[dik]

Can you secure 16-18GA CFS top wall channels with 3" legs to the steel beam and build the stud wall with 1" - 1 1/2" clearance to the US of the beam to allow for deflection?

Dik

 

[XR250]

Can you secure 16-18GA CFS top wall channels with 3" legs to the steel beam and build the stud wall with 1" - 1 1/2" clearance to the US of the beam to allow for deflection?

Dik, You usually need 14 or 12 ga track unless the wall height and wind pressure is low - especially with more than a 3/4" gap. Although - having a continuous wood plate on top of the wall is helpful as it will mitigate any point loads on the track - unlike in the metal stud world.

 

[dik]

Yup... could be... it's a matter of designing it... used the gauge just to indicate that the material would have to be thicker. Typically use about 5 or 6 psf for design pressures.

Dik

 

[XR250]

if interior, 16ga might be fine. It could be exterior, however.

 

[dik]

I'd never use a 'C' for an exterior application...

Dik