Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
(OP)
Hello,
I am working on a building that is to be framed with metal studs. The building is contains wide flange roof beams and metal decking. We are planning on using the exterior walls as shearwalls. These walls are non-load bearing and at some points the roof deck is approximately 35 feet above the floor slabe. I looked and I did not see any limitations as far as shearwall height goes with the exception of aspect ratio. As long as I am not violating aspect ratio requirements are there any other limitations to using metal stud shearwalls as a lateral system? The hold-down forces will be quite high, but we can manage those. We are in Seismic Design Category D and this is a risk category IV building. Thanks for your comments.
SGS
I am working on a building that is to be framed with metal studs. The building is contains wide flange roof beams and metal decking. We are planning on using the exterior walls as shearwalls. These walls are non-load bearing and at some points the roof deck is approximately 35 feet above the floor slabe. I looked and I did not see any limitations as far as shearwall height goes with the exception of aspect ratio. As long as I am not violating aspect ratio requirements are there any other limitations to using metal stud shearwalls as a lateral system? The hold-down forces will be quite high, but we can manage those. We are in Seismic Design Category D and this is a risk category IV building. Thanks for your comments.
SGS






RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
I am not a big fan of using metal studs for lateral stability of a structure of this height. Much safer to use red iron as the quality of metal stud construction is pretty poor and the detailing involved is pretty high. Then when they screw it up, you have to figure out a way to fix it and it ain't usually easy.
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
This is just a thought that has occurred to me on occasion. I'm not sure that I'd even let it stop me from proceeding if this were a wall on one of my projects.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
This is one of my favorite things about metal studs design (not) - The EOR will delegate the design of a mess like this to me when it should most reliably handled with red iron IMHO.
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
Jim.
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
Great point about the deflection tracks; I didn't realize they performed so poorly for in plane shear. When you provide the normal track with a screwed/welded connection, do you design the studs to take some axial load as the steel beam deflects above deflects?
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
Even more fodder for using structural steel for these applications. The metal stud installers will always come up with more creative ways to screw up your design. If nobody is paying attention, then you can have a big problem. To answer m20793's question, yes, you would need to design the studs as load bearing without a slip track.
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls
RE: Metal Stud Plywood Sheathed Shearwalls