Wood Shear Wall Max Height? 1

[Archie264]

I'm having trouble understanding what the maximum allowable height is for a wood shear wall. In the NDS wood and seismic manual and there seem to be a couple of references to limiting values but I'm having trouble understanding it. Can someone help me? Thanks.

 

[msquared48]

Where in the NDS are you looking?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[Archie264]

Yeah, sorry about that. I'm looking in a couple of places. For example, Section 4.3.4 and Table 4.3.4 refers to shear wall aspect ratios and Table 4.3.3.5 lists an adjustment factors, which makes reference to 8' and 10' walls...and then in Section 4.3.5.3.7 appears to limit perforated Shear Walls to 20'. This is in the 2008 edition, by the way.

So...am I then to infer that 20' tall wood shear walls allowed?

 

[jayrod12]

I've done ones up to 24' tall. Just make sure your aspect ratio meets the requirements.

 

[dcarr82775]

I think you can go as tall as you want so long as you meet the aspect ratios. The end posts still need to work in compression which is what I think ends up giving you a reasonable upper bound on height. 16ft is as tall as I have gone, but wouldn't have an issue going taller.

 

[manstrom]

As long as you meet the aspect ratios, and the studs work in compression, I don't see any reason to limit height.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

65 feet for seismic design category D, E, and F.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

 

[BAretired]

65' studs are not easy to find.

BA

 

[Archie264]

Thanks, all. I think the residential code has a limit of 10' for their proscriptive design but I didn't know if there were specific limits for engineered solutions. Thanks for the help.

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

BA: Maybe we can get a few from these guys?

Actually, stud length available is a good point. I suspect constructability and cost of using the larger size studs (2x8 and 2x10) to frame such a wall will give you the practical limit of shearwall height.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.