3d modeling for wood shearwall diaphragm design
3d modeling for wood shearwall diaphragm design
(OP)
What programs have people been using to model semi-rigid wood diaphragms and wood shearwalls?
Has anyone ever used RAM Elements? If so, what are the goods/bads and things to be aware of?
thanks
Has anyone ever used RAM Elements? If so, what are the goods/bads and things to be aware of?
thanks





RE: 3d modeling for wood shearwall diaphragm design
Diaphragms aren't quite so bad as you're mostly only dealing with elastic properties (flexural and shear deformation) and nail slip. And, the new NDS formulas for calculating a Ga (apparent shear modulus considering nail sli) really make this easier.
One word of caution: Wood diaprhagms are so flexible that you will probably need to sub-mesh the diaphragm further than you would for any other type of diaphragm. If your meshing is too coarse, then you're like to get some artificial rigidity out of that diaprhagm.