Stud Alignment in Light Gauge Steel Construction: 1

[serdardundar]

In “Prescriptive Method for Residential Cold-Formed Steel Framing” there is a restriction for alignment of the structural framing. The distance between the centerline of the wall stud and that of the floor joist is restricted to be no more than 0.75 inches. We are using a rollformer machine and a computer program specifically designed for the machine. It is nearly impossible to satisy this condition with the computer program we are currently using. Is there an exception for the above restriction?
My C shaped floor joists are connected to the flanges of a U section used as a track on the walls. And same U section runs along the top and bottom of the wall panels also. Can i design the U section at the end of the floor joists so that it distributes the loads from both upper story and from joists? In my further calculations can i assume the vertical loads from the upper story’s studs and from the floor joists are uniformly distributed along the bottom story’s wall. Should i take any special precautions against distribution of the seismic loads (we are building in an area of high seismic hazard.)? I am looking forward to hear about your opinions.
Thanks for your help....

 

[Ron]

The reason for this requirement is to accommodate the lack of torsional response for the light gage members. Deviation causes torsion and out-of-plane bending that the members are not readily capable of resisting. In order to deviate from this requirement, you will need to brace the joists quite a bit near the eccentricity.