Design Example - Abstract

Four-story Wood-frame Structure over Podium Slab

Developed for WoodWorks by Douglas S. Thompson, PE, SE, SECB, STB Structural Engineers, Inc.

This design example illustrates the seismic design of a four-story wood-frame hotel over one story of concrete podium slab which is assigned to Seismic Design Category D. The gravity load framing system consists of wood-frame bearing walls for the upper stories and concrete bearing walls for the lower story. The lateral load resisting system consists of wood-frame shear walls for the upper stories and concrete shear walls for the lower story. When designing this type of “mid-rise” wood-frame structure, there are several unique design elements to consider. The following steps provide a detailed analysis of some of the important seismic requirements of the shear walls per the 2006 International Building Code and 2007 California Building Code.

Four-story Wood-frame Structure over Podium Slab
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