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:
- Gain an understanding
of wood structural framing systems used in light frame construction;
- Know how to
apply allowable stress design (ASD) methods to light frame construction design;
- The importance
in providing the proper materials in a design;
- How wood building
components react to various loads;
- How to provide
adequate sizing to building system components used in light frame construction;
- How wood characteristic's
effect the design and the life of a light frame constructed building;
- How to provide
adequate framing members to a roof, wall and floor system;
- How to transfer
loads from the building roof to the wall and floor;
- Have an understanding
of repetitive member factors for light frame construction;
- Have an understanding
of load duration factors for light frame construction;
- Have an understanding
of horizontal shear factors for light frame construction;
- Have an understanding
of size factors for light frame construction;
- Have an understanding
of column stability factors for light frame construction;
- Have an understanding
of beam stability factors for light frame construction;
- How to provide
structural safety checks to the design of light frame construction;
- How to provide
adjustment factors to ASD design values;
- How various
equations are applied to determine structural serviceability;
- How moisture
effects building materials and applied loads;
- How to deal
with floor vibration and shrinkage in light frame construction;
- Identify structural
elements of a floor system;
- Identify structural
elements of a wall system;
- Identify structural
elements of a roof system;
- Increase an
understanding of live and dead loads; and
- Have an understanding
of simple and build-up columns.
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.
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.