Almost all houses have external shear walls, but internal shear walls are typically found only in larger houses and high-rise buildings subject to lateral winds and seismic forces. The taller the building, the greater the need for internal shear walls and a lateral force resisting system. As a general rule, the ideal placement for shear walls in high-rise buildings and those houses that require them is in the center of each half of a building. In other words, if there is a shear wall on its north side, it has to have an identical one on its south side.
If there is a shear wall in the southeast corner of a building, then an identical shear wall will be placed on the opposite side of the central axis, in the southwest corner. Shear walls are typically identified on blueprints by a solid line with a thinner line indicating the sheathing that will cover it and which is usually then specified in a separate sheathing schedule.
Shear walls are one of many building components that are shown on architectural plans. While many shear walls are simple rectangular planes, they can be even more effective at resisting wind or earthquakes when they are built in a variety of shapes:.
The best shape to use in any particular situation—some are more effective at absorbing seismic impacts while others are better suited to high winds—will be determined by the structural engineer. When you are installing shear walls in a house, a few simple rules will assure success. In most houses in the United States, the process consists of attaching sheathing either plywood or OSB to frames.
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He learned to build and weld while working on the farm with his grandad, and after earning a degree in Welding and Materials Engineering, he spent the next 10 years working in the heavy construction building everything from robots to ships to offshore oil rigs before transitioning to residential construction.
Lateral forces caused by wind, earthquake, and uneven settlement loads, in addition to the weight of structure and occupants, create powerful twisting torsional forces. This leads to the failure of the structures by shear. Shear walls are especially important in high-rise buildings subject to lateral wind and seismic forces. Generally, shear walls are either plane or flanged in section, while core walls consist of channel sections.
They also provide adequate strength and stiffness to control lateral displacements. The shape and plan position of the shear wall influences the behavior of the structure considerably.
Structurally, the best position for the shear walls is in the center of each half of the building. This is rarely practical, since it also utilizes the space a lot, so they are positioned at the ends. It is better to use walls with no openings in them. So, usually, the walls around lift shafts and stairwells are used. Also, walls on the sides of buildings that have no windows can be used.
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