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Calculating Design Loads for Wood Framing Components in Light Frame Construction

George E. Thomas, PE


Course Outline

This course will address the design of wood structural systems and construction materials commonly used is light-frame wood construction. The course focuses on structural design that specifies standard dimension lumber and structural wood panels (i.e., plywood and oriented strand board sheathing, etc.). Design of the lateral force resisting system (i.e., shearwalls and diaphragms) is approached from a system design perspective. The course will provide basic calculations and design of components and assemblies of conventional wood frame construction.

This course includes a multiple choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Intended Audience

Architects, Engineers, Residential Designers, and Builders


Benefit to Attendees

The information gained from this course will allow for the engineer to design wood framing components for light frame construction and residential structures.


Course Introduction

This course will address the design of wood structural systems and construction materials commonly used is light-frame wood construction. The course focuses on structural design that specifies standard dimension lumber and structural wood panels (i.e., plywood and oriented strand board sheathing, etc.). Design of the lateral force resisting system (i.e., shearwalls and diaphragms) is approached from a system design perspective. Many elements of light frame construction work together as a system to resist lateral and axial forces imposed on the above-grade structure and transfer them to the foundation. The above-grade structure also helps resist lateral soil loads on foundation walls through connection of floor systems to foundations. The issue of system performance is most pronounced in the above-grade assemblies of light-frame construction. Within the context of simple engineering approaches familiar to engineers, system-based design principles are addressed in this course.


Course Content

In this lesson, you are required to download and study the following course content in PDF format:

Calculating Design Loads for Wood Framing Components in Light Frame Construction

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

In summary this course was developed to help facilitate and advance efficient design of light frame construction systems used in residential housing whether built in conformance with prescriptive (i.e., "conventional") practices or specially engineered in part or whole. The desired effect of the information presented is to continue to improve the value of engineers in terms of economy in construction and performance.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

Take a Quiz


DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.