Introduction
Diaphragms comprise the horizontal
elements in the lateral force resisting system (LFRS) for many structures. In
particular, floor systems and roof/ceiling systems are designed to function as
horizontal diaphragms in typical wood structures. Diaphragms transfer the
resultant forces from applied lateral loads into the shear walls (or other
vertical elements) that support the diaphragm. In plan view for a typical wood
structure, a floor or roof diaphragm is essentially a deep, thin beam supported
by shear walls at each edge of the diaphragm. The basic form of resistance
provided by a diaphragm is that of a shear element. When designing wood
diaphragms, the following items should be considered:
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1. Sheathing grade and thickness Before beginning a discussion on the design of diaphragms, let us first look at the load path for lateral forces in a simple low-rise wood-frame building. |
Support for development of the Diaphragms Module
was provided by CUREE, PEER, and WSU.
The Diaphragms Tutorial was designed and
created by the following Research Assistants and Faculty at Washington State
University: Mike Dodson, Cameron Knudson, Aaron Henson, Dave Pollock
(Professor), Michael Symans (Professor), and Ken Fridley (Professor).