Print this page Calculating Conventional Wood Frame Connections for Residential Structures (Nails, Bolts, Screws, etc.)
George E. Thomas, PE
Course Outline
This course focuses
on conventional wood connections that typically use nails, bolts, screws, and
some specialty hardware and also addresses relevant concrete and masonry connections
in accordance with the applicable provisions of Building Code Requirements for
Structural Concrete (ACI-318) and Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures
(ACI-530)(ACI, 1999a; ACI 1999b).
This course includes
a multiple choice quiz at the end,
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of the course, the student will:
- Appreciate some of the complexities involved in the design of connections for residential structures;
- Gain increased understanding of how connection capacity is a critical design requirement for residential structures;
- Gain increased understanding of how various materials relate to wood connection capacity;
- Gain increased understanding of the use of adjustment factors in residential structure connection design;
- Gain increased understanding of the use of the group action in connection design;
- Gain understanding in combining wood stress adjustment factors;
- Gain knowledge of the recommended spacing of nails, screws, and bolts in wood connections;
- Have a understanding of the relevance of the direction at which loads act on a various connections;
- Increase a understanding of special design consideration in connections for residential structures;
- Have a understanding on how to transfer loads resisted by structural members and systems to other parts of the structure to form a "continuous load path";
- Have a understanding how to secure nonstructural components and equipment to the building; and
- Have an understanding
how to fasten members in place during construction to resist temporary loads
during installation (i.e., finishes, sheathing, etc.).
Intended Audience
Architects, Engineers, Residential Designers, and Builders
Benefit to Attendees
The information gained form this course will allow for the designer to analysis different types of connections for a variety of situations and conditions.
Course
Introduction
Adequate connection
of the framing members and structural systems within a residual structure is
a critical design and construction consideration. Regardless of the type of
materials used, structures are only as strong as their connections. Structural
systems can behave as a unit only with proper interconnection of the components
and assemblies; therefore, this course is dedicated to connections. A connection
transfers loads from one framing member to another (i.e., a stud to a top or
bottom plate) or from one assembly to another (i.e., a roof to a wall, a wall
to a floor, and a floor to a foundation). Connections generally consist of two
or more framing members and a mechanical connection device such as a fastener
or specialty connection hardware. Adhesives are also used to supplement mechanical
attachment of wall finishes or floor sheathing to wood. this course will allow
for the designer to analysis different types of connections and materials for
a variety of situations and conditions.
Course Content
In this lesson, you are required to download and study the following course content in PDF format:
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
This course demonstrated
an analytic method of determining loads and the required connections to support
those loads. It also demonstrated the discrepancy between calculated connection
requirements and conventional construction experience that may be negotiated
by permissible engineer judgment and use of conventional residential construction
requirements.
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.
