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>>Home   >Software

Site-Built Shearwall Designer

Wood shearwalls are typically used in locations where increased lateral resistance is required, such as around window and door openings, on garage wing walls and interior walls. When designing a wood shearwall, Designers need to consider the shear (sheathing and nailing), overturning (holdowns), concrete anchorage and drift. Simpson Strong-Tie has developed a web application that can quickly design shearwalls based on demand load, wall geometry and shearwall design parameters.

Select Wood Shearwall Type
Solid Walls

Solid Walls

Design of 1-story solid wood shearwalls.

OR
Open Walls (FTM)

Walls with
Opening (FTAO)

Design of 1-story wood shearwalls with one opening using the force transfer method. Strap force calculation is based on the Diekmann method.

Design Criteria

 
Upload a saved file
    Wall ID
    Design Code
    Select the edition of the International Building Code that the shearwall is to be designed to.

    Seismic Lateral Demands

    ASD Seismic Load, 0.7*E
    Enter the allowable stress design (ASD) seismic demand load on the shearwall. Multiply Nominal design load (LRFD) by a factor of 0.7 to convert to ASD design Load. Enter zero to not consider seismic design loads in the design of the shearwall.
    lb
    Seismic Design Category
    Select the Seismic Design Category for the site and structure. See ASCE 7, Section 11.4. The USGS recommends several resources that can help users determine seismic design coefficients. Visit https://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/designmaps.
    Seismic Drift Limit
    Select the allowable story drift for the shearwall based on the type of structure and Risk Category per IBC reference ASCE 7 Table 1.5-1 and Table 12.12-1. Only shearwall and holdown options meeting this limitation will be output.
    Seismic Value, SDS
    Enter the design earthquake spectral response acceleration parameter at short periods. See ASCE 7, Section 11.4. The USGS recommends several resources that can help users determine seismic design coefficients. Visit https://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/designmaps.
    Importance Factor, I
    Select the Importance Factor for the structure based on the Occupancy Category. Reference ASCE 7 Table 1.5-1 and Table 1.5-2.
    Omega Factor
    Select the System Overstrength Factor for the shearwall.
    Redundancy Factor
    Select the Redundancy Factor, ρ, for the system and load direction under consideration. See ASCE 7 Section 12.3.4.

    Wind Lateral Demands

    ASD Wind Load, 0.6*W
    Enter the allowable stress design (ASD) wind demand load on the shearwall. Multiply Nominal design load (LRFD) by a factor of 0.6 to convert to ASD design Load. Enter zero to not consider wind design loads in the design of the shearwall.
    lb
    Wind Drift Limit
    Select the allowable story drift for the shearwall for wind if desired. Only shearwall and holdown options meetings this limitation will be output.
    Edit Shearwall Parameters
    Solid Walls
    H
    Enter the height of the shearwall. The maximum value is 20 feet.
    ft
    L
    Enter the length of the shearwall. The maximum value is 20 feet.
    ft
    Walls With Opening (FTM)
    Hu
    Enter the wall height or pier height above the opening in the shearwall. The minimum value is 1 foot. The maximum value is 20 feet.
    ft
    Ho
    Enter the height of the opening in the shearwall. The minimum value is 2 feet. The maximum value is 20 feet.
    ft
    Hl
    Enter the wall height or pier height below the opening in the shearwall. The minimum value is 1 foot. The maximum value is 20 feet.
    ft
    L1
    Enter the wall width or pier width beside the opening in the shearwall. The minimum value is 2 feet. The maximum value is 20 feet.
    ft
    L2
    Enter the width of the opening in the shearwall. The minimum value is 2 feet. The maximum value is 20 feet.
    ft
    L3
    Enter the wall width or pier width beside the opening in the shearwall. The minimum value is 2 feet. The maximum value is 20 feet.
    ft

    Shearwall Parameters

    Wall Thickness (Nominal)
    Stud Spacing
    Lumber Species
    Wood Structural Panel
    Sheathing Type
    Minimum Sheathing Thickness
    Wall Dead Load
    psf
    Double-Sided Shearwall

    Holdown Information

    Holdown Installation Method
    Embedded Anchor
    Embedded Anchor
    OR
    Embedded Strap
    Embedded Strap
    Holdown Type
    Please select holdown installation method.
    Restart
    Calculate

    Open Wall Input Information

    Printed June 23, 2025 from https://www2.strongtie.com/webapps/sitebuiltshearwalldesigner/
    © 2025 Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc.