Aluminum Diaphragm and Shear Walls
Aluminum Diaphragm and Shear Walls
(OP)
I am having a hard time finding on design values for aluminum decking as a diaphragm and/or a shear wall material.
I recently started designing Storage Sheds and the typical industry roof deck and siding is aluminum. I am looking for some design values for shear strength as a diaphragm and shear wall.
Thanks,
I recently started designing Storage Sheds and the typical industry roof deck and siding is aluminum. I am looking for some design values for shear strength as a diaphragm and shear wall.
Thanks,






RE: Aluminum Diaphragm and Shear Walls
It really depends a lot on the screw patterns, girts, trusses, purlins, whatever makes up the diaphragm. The "good" companies spend the time and money to provide such answers.
Steel guys do it all the time!!
RE: Aluminum Diaphragm and Shear Walls
RE: Aluminum Diaphragm and Shear Walls
I typically design commercial structures and recently was offered to step on for an ailing elderly engineer who designs sheds and such.
These contractors are flipping out because i am changing "the way we have done it for 30 years" and "lets not reinvent the wheel".
The customers flip out over adding one screw to a connection, let alone changing the decks from aluminum to steel.
With as common as it appears in this market, I cant believe there isn't some data and testing on it.
RE: Aluminum Diaphragm and Shear Walls
RE: Aluminum Diaphragm and Shear Walls
RE: Aluminum Diaphragm and Shear Walls
http:
It is the primer on diaphragm design by the MCA
RE: Aluminum Diaphragm and Shear Walls
With the code officials lacking work they are checking EVERYTHING!! In my county they are only working 4 days a week and take 2 or 3 weeks to get it through. In 2005 - it took about 3 days!!
When I get hit with that - I usually respond with -
"If you have been doing it that way for thirty years - you should know better by now."
OR -
"You should learned how to do it right by now."
Haven't gotten my teeth removed --- yet...
BTW - why not switch to steel? - usually much cheaper and the newer coatings come with some amazing guarantees...
RE: Aluminum Diaphragm and Shear Walls
I have the Aluminum Design Manual, but not the primer on diaphragm design by the MCA.
Does any one have this and can check if its worth the money. The only reason i would buy it is for the diaphragm and shear wall design in aluminum.
I also have "ALUMINUM STRUCTURES A Guide to Their Specifications
and Design Second Edition"
It references "While more research has been done on steel diaphragms than aluminum, Sharp (133) presented shear test results for corrugated and V-beam aluminum sheeting"
It actually has some test results that it tables from the "Sharp" reference but im not sure which book of Sharps it came from.
Hinkle, A. J., and M. L. Sharp, Load and Resistance Factor Design of Aluminum Structures, Alcoa Report No. 89-57-03, Alcoa Center, PA, February 1989.
Sharp, M. L., Behavior and Design of Aluminum Structures, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1993
Sharp, Maurice L., Glenn E. Nordmark, and Craig C. Menzemer, Fatigue Design of Aluminum Components and Structures, McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York, 1996.
Anybody have any of these and can look into them?
Thanks Again everyone....