Shearwall with Window opening? 2

[StructuralEd]

I generall design shearwalls having door and window openings as a series of shorter walls from opening to opening.

Is there a way to consider them full length with perforations?
If so, are there design references or suggested methods of analysis?

 

[GoBizon]

Check out IBC2006: Section 2305.3.8 Shear Walls with Openings as a start. Section 2305.3.8.2 Perforated Shear Walls is what I generally use.

 

[abusementpark]

There is a popular approximate method for analyzing shear walls with openings. I read a paper recently that found that the method wasn't very accurate.

 

[structuresguy]

If your wall is more opening than wall, you may want to analyze as a rigid frame, not a wall. i do this where I have shear walls that have so many large openings that all that is left is a grid of beams and columns. So i run it as a rigid frame and come up with the reinforcing and deflections that way. Seems pretty reasonable to me.

 

[StructuralEd]

Our situation is just an access hatch between normal stud spaces.

 

[JLNJ]

I believe the IBC has some provisions for perforated shear walls where you use the % of wall as openings rather than design each element around each opening as a separate pier.

 

[BAretired]

What kind of shearwall...concrete, masonry, wood stud, metal stud?

BA

 

[StructuralEd]

Wood stud

 

[haynewp]

See the APA note on diaphragms and shear walls:

http://www.mcvicker.com/twd/gwdi05/page015.htm

 

[StructuralEd]

Very helpful haynewp.