structural

wailuku · Oct 3, 2003

The top plate attachment of a plywood shearwall is accomplished using angle clips or toenails. I have seen these clips or toenails only specified over the length of the plywood shearwall. My question is this:

Since the angle clips or toenails are transferring the shear (seismic or wind) into the double top plate (the strut) shouldn't the angle clips or toenails be spaced along the entire shear line instead of only over the length of the shearwall?

jtstruct · Oct 8, 2003

wailuku,

If I'm reading your post correctly, the nails and clips are doing the opposite. They are taking the shear forces from the top plates (the collectors) and are dumping it into the shear walls that then resist the load and take it down to the foundation. When these top plate collectors are carrying significant levels of shear loads, they often require additional straps at splice locations.

Hope this helps.

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