HORIZONTAL FRAMING SYSTEMS

(p. 98 - 108 of Structural Competency for Architects by Hollee Hitchcock Becker)

• Horizontal framing systems are required to carry floor loads and usually to carry roof loads, as well as
any lateral loads to the vertical support system.
• To do this, structural bays in orthogonal, radial or other patterns as discussed in Chapter 11 are employed to suit the
individual project.

• Horizontal spanning systems consist of a deck that supports the floor or roof load and spans between and is
supported by beams or joists.
• provides a continuous stiff medium that enables the horizontal spanning systems to act as a horizontal diaphragm,
meaning it acts as one rigid body.
• Most horizontal spanning systems employ an orthogonal grid pattern that allows for efficient use of materials and
ease of connections.

13.1 Typical Steel Framing Systems

• Components of a horizontal steel framing system include the decking material, steel beams or joists, and the angles,
plates and bolts used for connections.

13.1.1 Decking in Steel Framing Systems

• In steel framing, the decking material is most commonly
steel deck, although grating is often used for catwalks and
mezzanines in industrial applications.
• Steel deck is often covered with a concrete slab. In
composite decking, the concrete and metal deck work
together to support the loads.

13.1.2 Steel Joists and Beams

• The deck is supported by a series of joists, beams or
bearing walls. Most steel beams are wide flange beams (W-
shapes).
• Steel I-beam shapes are most efficient when spanning
distances between 20′ and 40′.
• For lighter loads and shorter spans, channel sections (C-
shapes), hollow structural sections (HSS-shapes) or angles (L-
shapes) may be used.

Castellated beams
• Castellated beams are beams with a perforated web with holes usually in a series of circles or hexagons.
• Castellated beams are used when it is desired that the openings in the web accommodate ducts, pipes or conduit or
when it is necessary to reduce weight

Open-web joists (OWJ)

• Open-web joists (OWJ) are another spanning option for steel
framing systems.
• consist of a top and bottom flange usually made of double angles
with bar struts placed in a truss configuration forming the web.
• There are three classes of OWJ with depths and spans
as shown in Table.
 13.2 Concrete Framing Systems
• Concrete framing systems consist of steel-reinforced concrete components that are either cast in place or precast
• can be designed to any shape for which a form can be fabricated however, because concrete is heavy, weighing about
150pcf, concrete design should strive for efficiency of material

13..2.1 Slabs
• Concrete slabs can have either a uniform, tapered or ribbed cross-section depending on the span and loads carried.

13..2.2 Concrete Beams and T-beams

• Concrete beams are typically rectangular in cross-section, but this is not a requirement.
• The depth of a concrete beam is dependent on the span and loads carried as well as the amount of steel
reinforcement and strength of the concrete mix.

13.3 Wood Framing Systems

• There are two basic methods for framing in wood:

1. Western Framing - use closely spaced wood joists with a plywood or thin plank deck
2. Post and Beam Framing - use timber beams with a thicker plank deck.

13.3.1 Wood Deck

• For Western Framing Systems, plywood decking is used as the subfloor and then topped with a finished floor product.
• Decking consists of planks placed either diagonally or perpendicular to the span of the beam or joist.
• The span of the decking depends on the ability of a single board to carry the entire weight of a person who might step
on a single board.

13.3.2 Wood Joists and Beams

• Wood joists and timber beams typically have standard-sized, rectangular cross-sections for economy. But wood is
easily shaped, and so custom sizes and non-prismatic members are sometimes used to convey a style or design
concept.
• Sizes of wood joist and timber beams are dependent on the loads, spans, species of wood and factors such as water
content, termite protection and heat.
• Wood framing systems may also employ glue-laminated beams. Glue-laminated beams are manufactured by gluing
thin layers of wood together to form a particular size and shape.
13.3.3 Wood Built-up Members, I-beams, and Trusses
• Wood joists and beams may have cross-sections built up from sawn
lumber or fabricated wood materials such as OSB or a combination of
both.

13.3.4 Bay Framing

• A bay is an area with a perimeter defined by a set of
vertical support components, typically four columns.
• To frame a bay, begin at the perimeter and frame between
the columns. Decide in what direction the deck spans and evenly
space beams to span perpendicular to the deck span.
 LATERAL BRACING SYSTEM
(p. 109 - 177 of Structural Competency for Architects by Hollee Hitchcock Becker)

• There are 3 basic methods to resist lateral load

• Lateral loads are live loads that are applied to the ground.
▪ Example: wind loads against the façade and earthquake
▪ Most lateral loads vary intensity depending on the building geographic location, structural
material, height, and shape.
▪ resisting lateral loads, whether wind or seismic, it is important to maintain a balance of
resistance throughout the structural system.

14.1 THREE BASIC TYPES OF LATERAL RESISTANCE

BRACED FRAME

• All rely on diagonal bracing to resist lateral loads.

• The braces do not allow lateral sway.
• Transfer loads to the ground through a series of braces.

NOTE:

• there are two diagonals in each bay, but only one is active at any given time because the bracing is designed for
tension alone.

14.2 MOMENT FRAME

• It resists lateral forces by virtue of the rigid connections at each joint.

• Construction of a modern steel frame building in which the ends of beams are rigidly joined to columns by
welded connections.
• It can be steel, concrete, or masonry construction. They provide a complete space frame throughout the
building to carry vertical loads, and they use some of those same frame elements to resist lateral forces.

14.3 SHEAR WALL

• acts as a rigid body capable of transferring lateral loads to the foundation through internal moment. (Vertical
element)
• it made of dense material such as masonry or reinforced concrete.
• typically wind and seismic loads.
• resists load parallel to the plane of the wall.