This is what I mean. x denotes shearwall, s denotes bearing walls, ---- denotes the location of the drag strut.
Wood trusses are to be installed perpendicular to the shearwall.
Question:
In shearwall lind B , can I just continue the top plate and serve as the drag strut along that line? Im planning to nail it to the bottom of the solid blocking that will be positioned along that line also? (building has a flat roof)
Describe line b a little more
Is your 'drag strut' over some kind of opening?
Is the opening full height (to the bottom of your drag strut)?
A drag strut will collect the shear from your diaphragm and then transfer it into the shear wall. Mechanisms must be in place for these two load transfers to take place. The drag struct must also be sized to accomodate the forces being transferred into it.
thanks for the reply. I will just update my figure above. There is no oppening. The building is shaped like an L. Based on my calculation the total drag force that must be carried by the strut is 1752 lbs. The double top plate axial capacity can reach a value of 8229 ( 2x375x1.5x5.5).
So can I just continue the top plate and nail it to the truss blocks? (assuming that spice at top plates should be well-considered)
Double check your numbers and construction assumptions.
If double top plate has that capacity, yes, it can be used as the drag strut. Now it is a matter of details. Double top plate connected to act as intended. Blocking nailed to transfer load (or trusses connected to transfer load). Assumed bracing for the double top chord is as it will be in the field.
