Introduction

This lesson demonstrates how to model a single shearwall, manually apply seismic or wind loads, and account for additional forces like uplift and dead loads. Initially, the design fails under a 35 kN wind load, but increasing plywood thickness resolves the issue. Manually adding wind uplift increases hold-down demands, while incorporating dead loads counteracts uplift, reducing hold-down forces by over 20%. The Program also differentiates between openings and non-shearwalls, affecting dead load distribution and overall design outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Explain how to model a single shearwall and manually apply seismic, wind, and supplementary loads in Shearwalls.
• Analyze the impact of wind and vertical forces on shearwall capacity and hold-down demands.
• Demonstrate how to adjust shearwall materials and thickness to meet structural design requirements.
• Compare the program’s treatment of dead loads for openings versus non-shearwall segments and its effect on design outcomes.

Instructional Video

Video Run Time: 08:35 minutes

This video utilizes one project file and it is available for download below.