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Plywood over 3x T&G decking--Rigid or Flexible diaphragm

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Nancy Devine

Structural
Joined
Jan 5, 2017
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2
Location
US
Would you consider a diaphragm constructed with plywood over 3x T&G decking to be rigid or flexible? Any references would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Nancy H. Devine, P.E., S.E.
 
A lot of that would depend on the aspect ratio in my eyes.
 
And on the deflection of the diaphragm relative to its supports
 
The building is basically square.

How would you estimate the deflection of the diaphragm in this case?
 
Assuming a USA project (you might specify which country you are in)....

The IBC has equations for estimating diaphragm stiffnesses and both the IBC and ASCE 7 have definitions of rigid vs. flexible diaphragms that depend on the building size, aspect ratio, etc. - diaphragm deflection vs. shear wall deflections (per MotorCity's comment).

The trick in your case is that you also have a T&G decking under it which certainly adds to the diaphragm stiffness above and beyond the plywood by itself.

There have been posts here on E-T that mentioned new information on T&G decking shear capacities and stiffness - do a search.

You might then have to estimate each and combine into one overall shear stiffness (G') and then see how your diaphragm rates vs. the shear wall deflections.



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Boat hulls might have 3 plies of T&G.
Why would a building have that many plies?


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
 
Mike - it may be 3" thick T&G, not 3 plies.

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Please forgive me if I am more confused than usual.

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
 
Or a 3 lam T&G product where instead of routing out the tongue and groove it is manufactured with three lams offset to form a tongue and groove.

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I was thinking that if I found 3 plies of T&G in a building, I would suspect that two are rotted.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
 
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