Empirical equation for period of a wood-frame building?

[GalileoG]

The empirical equation in the NBCC for the fundamental period of a building utilizing shear walls is mainly geared towards concrete shear walls, not wood shear walls. I am curious if there is an alternative empirical equation that is out there (even in other codes) that others use to calculate a more accurate approximation of the period of a wood-frame building?

Clansman

If a builder has built a house for a man and has not made his work sound, and the house which he has built has fallen down and so caused the death of the householder, that builder shall be put to death." Code of Hammurabi, c.2040 B.C.

 

[OldPaperMaker]

I guess that NBCC stand for National Bldg Code for Canada so this may not help.

Section 12.8.2.1 of ASCE7-05 gives a formula (12.8-7) for the fundamental period of a structure as Ta = (Ct)(hn)^x (thats hn to the x power). hn is the height, in feet above the base to the highest level of the structure. Wood shearwalls would be "All other structural systems" and, in US units, Ct = 0.02 and x=0.75

There is also three other formulas that I am not going to try to explain. Your best course would be to try to find a copy of ASCE7-05.

I hope that this helps.