Wood-Frame Shear Walls


 Shear wall test at San Jose State University with gypsum sheathing on both faces of the wall.
 

          This tutorial consists of four major sections.  It is recommended that you work through the Introduction and Segmented Design sections before you proceed to the other topics.  Upon completing this tutorial you should be able to:

  • identify and trace valid load path(s) through a structure from the applied lateral load source to the foundation reactions
  • determine the unit shear and reactions for shear wall design
  • use engineering judgment to determine the most appropriate design for shear walls

Introduction to Shear Walls:

demonstrates how lateral load is transferred from a diaphragm through shear walls to the foundation.

Segmented Shear Walls:

demonstrates the traditional design methodology for shear walls, including the use of Shear Wall Design Tables found in model building codes.

Perforated Shear Walls:

introduces the recently developed perforated design methodology for shear walls with unrestrained openings.

Failure Mechanisms:

illustrates failure mechanisms for wood-frame shear walls that have undergone static monotonic loading. 

 
*Please complete the survey when finished with this module. Student ID required.*

Topics of this tutorial include:

Load Path, Segmented Design Method, UBC Design Table, Wall Shear, Dimension Ratios, Chord Design, 
 Anchorage, Deflection, Perforated Design Method, Method Comparison, Shearwall Failures

Support for development of the Shear Walls Tutorial was provided by AF&PA, CUREE, PEER, and WSU.

The Shear Walls Tutorial was designed and created by the following Research Assistants and Faculty at Washington State University: Aaron Henson, Mike Dodson, Dave Pollock (Professor), Michael Symans (Professor), and Ken Fridley (Professor).

 

If you have any difficulties accessing, downloading, and/or otherwise using this site to its fullest, please contact Dave Pollock.

updated: 07/26/02